[blockquote]A story of going back to school and raising a family.[/blockquote]
Each night after stories and prayers, Trason, 29, and Cassie Campbell, 26, put their two daughters to bed. With Carriann, 4, and Chaney, 14 months old, finally asleep, the couple sat down to their dining room table, one across from the other, and began their homework.
It was this hard work and determination that allowed the [quote_right]“We just wanted them to see the importance of education at an early age”[/quote_right]Campbells to graduate last May from Western Kentucky University Owensboro. Trason, a firefighter and security officer at Alcan, graduated with his bachelor’s degree in systems management. Cassie, a guidance counselor with Daviess County Public Schools, graduated with her master’s degree in school counseling. The couple, married 7 years this month, walked the line together as their two girls watched from the audience.
“We just wanted them to see the importance of education at an early age,” Cassie said. “Being at graduation, they saw that we were serious about it. They saw the end product, the hard work we put into it.”
With three jobs between the two of them, and two daughters to raise at home, the Campbells don’t deny it was difficult.
Cassie enrolled in as many classes locally as possible and took advantage of online course offerings, but admitted it was hard not to be home with her family. Trason said that while all of his classes were online, it was a challenge to always have something in the back of his mind needing to be done with his schoolwork.
“But we wouldn’t change a thing,” Trason said.
“It’s doable,” Cassie said, giving the following advice to other parents:
Number one, go for it! Everything will fall into place.
Number two, prioritize. Learn the balance between school, work and family.
Number three, communicate with your spouse. It is important to keep your normal family routine and it takes both parents to do that.
The Campbells not only encourage other parents to go back to school, but also their own daughters. Even at their young ages, Carriann and Chaney know that education is important. Cassie jokes that while she was in school, her oldest “played homework,” sitting down with her as she finished her own assignments.
“We stress, even though they are young, that God has a special plan for their lives, but it’s their job to put forth the hard work to get there,” Cassie said.