One Class at a Time: Shantale Honoré’s 15-Year Journey to Graduation

Shantale Honoré’s path to a diploma has been defined by perseverance, one class at a time for fifteen years.

No shortcuts. No quitting.

For Honoré, higher education was never separate from life; it existed within it. As a full-time employee, wife, and mother, she made the intentional decision to move forward slowly but steadily.

“I was working full time, a wife, and a mother, so I couldn’t put myself first,” she explains. “But just taking one class at a time worked for me.”

Over the years, life brought both challenges and milestones, including raising her son, supporting her husband through his own education, and caring for family members during difficult seasons. Still, she never lost sight of her goal.

“This is a personal goal for me,” she said. “I have to get my degree. I have to finish it.”

Her journey wasn’t linear. There were semesters she had to step away, but never permanently.

“There were times when I wanted just to quit, but I knew I couldn’t,” she says. “I would just sit out a semester, and I would go back the next semester.”

That persistence became her defining strength and an inspiration to those around her. Her family remained one of her greatest sources of encouragement.

“As long as you don’t quit, just take your time,” they reminded her.

Now, just weeks away from graduating with her Bachelor of Business Administration, that encouragement has transformed into celebration and a deeper appreciation for the experience that shaped her along the way.

“It’s just the opportunity to meet… to interact with the younger students and to be celebrated, that was the most amazing part,” she said of participating in traditions like the Senior Toast and the Candlelight Ceremony. The latter especially has inspired her to give back to future alumnae.

That same sense of belonging carried into her academic experience, where faculty support proved just as impactful.

“All of the professors that I have had have been very supportive and patient,” she says. However, two professors, in particular, left a lasting impact.

In accounting classes with Professor Kara Kostiuk, Honoré found a learning environment rooted in honesty and connection.

“She gave you the opportunity to be honest,” Honoré says. “She would ask you personal questions, like what’s going on with you all this week?”

That approach made it easier to balance the realities of life outside the classroom with the expectations inside it, reinforcing that she was seen not just as a student but as a whole person.

In one of her business classes with Dr. Seth Selke, Honoré experienced both challenge and reassurance at the same time.

“When I was stressing out… he would say, ‘Don’t overthink it,’” she recalls. “This is what I’m looking for.”

His guidance helped her push through moments of doubt, especially in more demanding courses.

What stood out most to Honoré wasn’t just what the faculty taught; it was how accessible they were.

“The fact that I could call them, and they would talk to me, that’s what I liked most,” she says.

That level of personal support, she says, made all the difference during moments when she felt overwhelmed.

“Sometimes you just need them to help get you settled,” she adds.

For Honoré, success wasn’t about rushing; it was about refusing to stop.

When asked what she would tell a fellow nontraditional student who’s contemplating returning to school, she immediately said, “Don’t get overwhelmed. You’re going to learn something, and you’re going to be proud of yourself when you finish.”

Honoré will be among the graduates recognized during Wesleyan College’s commencement ceremonies, a celebration of achievement for the entire Class of 2026. The College will host its celebrations on Saturday, May 16th, with undergraduate commencement at 10:00 AM in Porter Auditorium and graduate commencement at 2:00 PM in the Chapel.