Adalice Burgos is a systems analyst at Penn State Health and is considering law school. Ten years ago, she was working night shifts, raising her children, and certain she was capable of more than her circumstances allowed.
One decision changed the road she was on.
In 2015, after missing out on a job because she did not have a college degree, Burgos enrolled at Penn State World Campus. She was a working adult and a mom of twin boys, had been out of school for years, and was not sure an online degree was even possible for someone in her position.
"I thought I was too old to go back to school," she said. "I thought, what would people think?"
Burgos was wrong. The degrees were possible — an associate degree in information sciences and technology in 2019 and a Bachelor of Science in Security and Risk Analysis in 2025.
Her sons, Erian and Eden, were in the crowd at graduation for her bachelor's degree. She could hear them over everyone else. Burgos talked about the decision that started it all, what kept her going, and where she is headed next.
You're working in IT at Penn State Health now. How did you end up in a career in IT?
Ten years ago, I was on the night shift, trying to be present for my boys. My opportunities felt limited. I took what was available. The idea that I would be doing what I'm doing now — that wasn't in the picture yet.
I worked really hard to prepare for an interview for a position I wanted, and I didn't get it. When I asked the hiring manager why, she told me it was because I didn't have enough education. That crushed me. But it also made me think differently about my life. My manager at the time heard what happened and asked if I'd ever considered going back to school. My first instinct was that it was too late. I already had kids. I already had a life built.
Then, she mentioned Penn State World Campus and that it was online. That I could keep working, keep being a mom, and still earn a Penn State degree. I didn't need to think much further than that.
A lot of people in your situation might still have talked themselves out of it.
I think the fear is real. I had been out of school for years. I had twins. I was working. The idea of adding anything to that felt impossible. But the flexibility of online learning made it feel manageable. I could do my assignments throughout the week and still have my family time, still put in my hours at work. I knew when things were due, so I could plan around everything else. It wasn't easy, but it was doable.
How did your boys support you while you were earning your IT degree?
They were everything. I taught Erian and Eden early on that when mom is studying, that time is respected — and they rose to that. But it went deeper than logistics. They look to me to see if life is okay. For me, it was important to model that no matter what, you just keep going. If I could show them I could do it, someday when they're facing something hard, they can say, my mom did it. We can do it, too.
You've talked about your academic adviser, Amanda, as someone who was really key to keeping you on track.
Amanda knew what it would take to keep me motivated, to keep me on track, and for me to graduate. There was a moment when the one class I needed to graduate was completely full, and I called her in tears. She told me not to worry, that she had a solution — and she found one. Not only did I get the credits I needed to graduate, but enough to carry into my next degree. I am forever indebted to her.
What did finishing your bachelor's degree open for you?
Practically, it opened doors at work that weren't there before. But personally, it showed me something about myself that I didn't know was there. The resiliency to finish what I started. Once you know that about yourself, you start to see possibilities differently. I'm thinking about law school now — cybersecurity law specifically. A few years ago, I would have told you that wasn't possible for me.
Finishing this degree didn't just open doors. It changed what doors I thought I was allowed to knock on.
A Penn State education online
For Burgos, earning a degree in the cybersecurity field represented a journey that fulfilled a deep personal goal.
Penn State World Campus, which has been offering a Penn State education online for more than 25 years, gave Burgos the flexibility to earn her degree online while continuing to work full-time.
Ready to start your story? Penn State World Campus offers more than 200 online degrees and certificates designed to fit your life. Explore your options.
