The University of West Alabama’s online program made it possible for Leslie Hood and her son Wesley Huddleston to earn their degrees
Story: Lisa Sollie | Photos: Cody Ingram
Leslie Hood was three months pregnant with her son Wesley when she walked across the stage to receive her diploma at Valley High School’s graduation in 1999. Twenty-four years later, mother and son walked across the stage at UWA’s 2023 fall commencement, only this time, they each received a diploma.
Hood, who earned a special education degree, has dreamt of this moment since she was a kid.
“My whole life I wanted to be a teacher, but when I got pregnant my senior year of high school, I knew I had to step up, grow up and change my plans,” she recalled, “and school wasn’t part of that. I continued to work, as I had since I was 16, often working two jobs or whatever I needed to make sure Wesley was taken care of.” She also found fulfillment teaching Sunday School and youth at her church.
Seven years ago, she began working as a majorette and color guard instructor at Beulah High School in Valley, Alabama, and then as a substitute teacher at the high school and Beulah Elementary. When she stepped into the classroom for the first time, Hood knew she was where she always wanted to be, and after hired as a paraprofessional in 2020, she finally explored going back to school.
“I knew I’d have to earn my degree online, so I spoke to my principal about it and talked to some of the teachers I worked with, many of whom earned their degrees from UWA, and they all encouraged me to do it.” Her family was also very supportive, but her biggest cheerleaders, she noted, were her husband, whom she married in 2008, and Wesley.
Wesley’s journey
Wesley Huddleston was busy finishing up his associate degree at Southern Union State Community College, when his mom began finalizing her plans to go back to school. Going to school in person didn’t appeal to him, and knowing his mom was starting at UWA through their online program, he thought he’d give it a try as well. His degree choice was psychology.
“I’ve dealt with mental health issues most of my life, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as general anxiety disorder, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD),” he noted, “so my interest in psychology grew from that. And though I’ve been in therapy since I was a kid, I didn’t want to be a therapist.” Huddleston is interested in forensic psychology, particularly working with the criminally insane and those in institutions. He wants to understand how their brains work. “I believe people like that are often misunderstood.” He added, “I want to help determine what triggers their behavior.”
Huddleston admits he got in trouble a lot during high school. “I had a 504 plan, and I don’t know if I would just get embarrassed or what when a teacher would call on me, but I would act out because I didn’t know how to respond to being singled out.” Many of Wesley’s teachers didn’t understand him, his mom Leslie noted, but for some teachers, the 504-plan helped because it made them stop, look and listen. But for other teachers, not so much.
“That’s one of the main reasons I wanted to be a special education teacher, so I can advocate for my students like I did for my son. I can be the go-between to help educate other teachers ‘why’ a particular student might be shutting down in their class. I can also come alongside parents, because I’ve been in their shoes too. And I can be available to my students whether they just need someone to listen or need help understanding what’s happening around them or remind them they aren’t the only ones struggling,” Hood explained. “We all need to learn to work together to make sure all students have what they need to be successful,” she added.
Most people who don’t struggle with the things he struggles with, noted Wesley, often think he can just overcome his disorders by pushing through them.
“They think ‘it’s all in my head’ but they don’t understand how you can almost become paralyzed with anxiety and worry and it’s hard to move forward and make yourself get started. Therapy, as well as having people around you who encourage you, like my girlfriend, who helps me a lot and pushes me to keep going, can change the way you think about things. But it’s easier said than done.”
Online degree, the right fit
Earning a degree online has its own sets of challenges and while it may not work for everyone —both Leslie and Wesley said it was the right fit for them.
If it wasn’t for UWA’s online program, Wesley believes he would have flunked out. “I struggled at the community college and often didn’t go to class. Taking online classes required me to do a lot of independent work, reading chapters and taking notes, which I enjoy doing. And though it’s often difficult to get started due to my ADHD, once I do, I’m okay. That was the hardest part for me, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Going to school online was definitely the right move for me,” he added.
“I’ve never been in college before so it was hard, particularly at first, because I’m not one to bother people, I kind of want to figure it out on my own. Once I got over being afraid of my professors and let them know when I needed help or didn’t understand something,” Leslie chuckled, “it did get a little easier.” Regardless of the many awesome instructors Leslie had though, going to school, working full-time and raising kids in a blended family was really stressful and there were days she wanted to quit.
“I couldn’t have done this without my family; our kids and my husband have sacrificed a lot. My church family and the faculty I work with and the administration here at the school have also been a huge encouragement checking on me and making sure I was okay,” she added.
Since the family lives over four hours from UWA, Leslie had no plans to walk at graduation, but Wesley had other ideas.
“I was not a big fan of walking, I’d rather just have my diploma mailed to me,” he said, “but I’m walking for my mom. She’s my role model and favorite person ever. She’s been wanting to go back (to school) for a long time, and even with all my siblings and everything, she didn’t let that stop her and that taught me a lot. Plenty of times I would go to her feeling depressed or overwhelmed and she would reassure me. Not only was she taking care of her family, but she was working full time and going to school and whenever I would see that, I’d think, there’s no reason why I can’t do it too.”
“It’s crazy to think I’ve actually graduated, and Wesley too,” she added. “Out of all the kids, he was the one I was so afraid would drop out of school when he turned 17. I prayed a lot, and look at him now!”