There Is No “Behind”: Leah Perez's Journey Back to College

When Leah Perez stepped to the podium as a student speaker at Dean College's 2026 Commencement ceremony, she shared a message that resonated with graduates of all ages. 

"For a long time, I believed success had a schedule," she told the audience. "Graduate by this age. Achieve this by that time. Don't fall behind." 

Then she shared the lesson she learned through her own journey. 

"There is no behind. There is only our time." 

For Perez, a 42-year-old wife, mother, educator, and Dean graduate, those words were deeply personal. 

Like many adult learners, her path to a college degree was anything but traditional. While raising a family and building a career, finishing college often felt out of reach. Childcare, work, and everyday responsibilities naturally took priority, but the goal never disappeared. 

"I always knew I wanted to do more," Perez says. "And I say 'do' very intentionally because there's nothing greater to be than a parent. But I also wanted a different kind of challenge, something that pushed me to grow in my own way."
The opportunity arrived unexpectedly when Perez was offered an assistant teaching position at the preschool where she worked. The role required her to complete her degree through the school's tuition reimbursement program.
Within hours, she had enrolled at Dean College, requested her transcripts, and registered for classes. 

“The universe didn’t exactly nudge me, it gave me a pretty firm shove,” she says. 

What followed were years of balancing coursework alongside work and family life. Many evenings found Perez studying at the kitchen island while her own children completed their homework nearby. 

"We were silently competing to see who could finish our assignments without losing our cool first," she joked during her commencement speech. “Spoiler alert, sometimes none of us won.” 

Despite the challenges, returning to school reinforced something important: she was capable of more than she had given herself credit for. 

Along the way, she also found greater purpose in her work as an educator. Working with young children, including students with autism and a wide range of learning needs, strengthened her commitment to helping every student succeed. 

"My goal is to make learning accessible for every child," she says. "It takes creativity, patience, and a lot of humor." 

This spring, Perez earned her associate degree, an achievement she describes as "a promise kept." 

The accomplishment became even more meaningful after the unexpected loss of her father during her time as a student, an experience that shifted her perspective on time and opportunity. 

"Getting older is a privilege," Perez says. "The question at the end of the day is, what are you going to do with it?" 

It is a question she hopes other adults considering college will ask themselves. 

Too often, people convince themselves they are too old, too busy, or too far removed from school to succeed. Perez's experience suggests otherwise. 

Growth does not have an expiration date, and learning does not belong to any one stage of life. 

As she reminded her fellow graduates during Commencement, choosing to grow is always worth celebrating. 

And for Perez, the journey is far from over. This fall, she will return to Dean College to continue pursuing her bachelor's degree, proof that there is no single timeline for success, only the courage to take the next step when the time is right. 

To learn more about Dean College’s flexible learning options, please visit here.