When Elizabeth Ackerman crossed the stage at Rasmussen University’s Florida Commencement Ceremony, she did so not only as a soon-to-be graduate of the Criminal Justice Bachelor’s degree program, but as a survivor, a mother, and a voice of perseverance.
Ackerman, a 35-year-old mom of five, delivered the ceremony’s undergraduate address, and the crowd was captivated by her authenticity.
“Sometimes, the hardest roads lead to the most meaningful destinations,” she says– words that came from lived experience.
Grief and health problems
Ackerman’s education began under the pall of deep, personal sorrow. “I lost my grandmother during my first week of classes. It was hard to even imagine focusing on school in the middle of grief.”
At the same time, she was managing life with lupus and caring for a child with serious medical challenges.
“There were moments when life tested me so hard that I wondered if I should step back and take a pause,” she says. “But every time I thought about quitting, something inside me said, ‘Keep going.’”
Even when faced with a cancer scare – thankfully later found to be symptoms related to lupus – Elizabeth refused to let fear define her path.
“That experience reminded me how fragile and valuable this journey is,” she says. “It pushed me to pursue my goals with purpose and gratitude.”
Students are handling so much more than schoolwork
Like many Rasmussen students, Ackerman balanced family responsibilities, her own health and passions alongside her education. And she earned many different victories along the way. She consistently made the Dean’s List, joined the National Society of Leadership and Success, and wrote and published a children’s book.
She’s quick to point out that she didn’t do it alone.
“My professors weren’t just instructors. They were motivators, encouragers, and sometimes the push I needed to believe that I could actually do this.”
Her online classroom became more than a place to learn. It became a space of compassion and connection – one where resilience is both taught and practiced.
“My professors reminded me that going back to school isn’t about walking around like a dog carrying your own leash,” she says. “It’s about having people beside you who help you keep moving forward when life is heavy.”
During her speech, Ackerman reminded her fellow graduates that resilience isn’t about avoiding struggle. It’s about embracing your own challenges and triumphs and relying on the strength of the Rasmussen community.
“Whatever battles you’re facing, whatever you may be dealing with, you are not alone,” she says.
A legacy of putting one foot in front of the other 
Graduation isn’t an ending for Ackerman. She shares that the real work starts after you receive your degree.
“Our true legacy is built on a personal scale,” she says. “It’s in the wisdom we share with our children, the empathy we extend to our neighbors, and the doors we hold open for others.”
Ackerman hopes her journey reminds others that success isn’t about perfection, but about perseverance.
“If I can do this – through illness, loss, and every setback in between – then others out there can too,” she shares. “Because resilience doesn’t mean doing it all alone. It means believing you can rise again, no matter what.”
You have your own legacy to create
No one can control or predict the obstacles that will rise up in life. But hardship, grief and exhaustion are just part of being human. They don’t have to stop you from making important decisions about your life. They don’t have to define your path.
You can rise again, no matter what comes. Just like Ackerman did.
Facing hardship can be a powerful way to define your journey. Check out I Want to Go Back to School But … [Insert Reason Here] to see examples of people who thought going back to school might be too much to handle.
