When Holly Curtsinger was 18 years old, she had a choice to make. She could attend Indiana State University on scholarship, or she could marry her boyfriend, a private in the U.S. Army, and relocate. She chose the latter, embarking on a journey that would take her to South Korea, Texas, Germany, Maryland, and back to South Korea. “Since I married so young, a lot of people thought that I had given up on higher education,” said Curtsinger. “That was not true at all.”
Whenever Curtsinger could afford it, she would take classes. While living in Germany, she worked in a preschool program, and earned an associate credential in child development. Her trainer at the time encouraged her to continue her education beyond the credential, so when she moved back to the U.S., she enrolled in a community college and earned an associate degree in early childhood education. When she was again relocated to South Korea, she began looking for an online degree program that would enable her to continue her education.
Curtsinger took her first Indiana University distance education course in 2006. Her stepfather graciously offered to pay her tuition if she agreed to dedicate herself full time to completing her education. Curtsinger jumped at the opportunity. “I enjoy this program because of the flexibility,” she said. “I like having the freedom to do my assignments at my own pace. We moved from Maryland to Indiana to Texas over a period of three months, and I was able to work ahead, so I wouldn’t fall behind while we were in transit. In the past, supporting my husband’s career meant giving up things that were important to me each time we were required to move. With this program, no matter where we are stationed, I am able to complete my work.”
Now, a year after committing herself to her course work full time, Curtsinger sees her bachelor’s degree in sight. “My life has been one fascinating adventure,” she said. “I have lived in Europe and Asia, on both coasts, and in the heartland of the United States. Earning a bachelor’s degree was the one thing that I felt I was missing, and this program helped me fill that void.”
