By Lisa Camerlengo

Completing a college degree is probably one of the most important milestones many of us will achieve. But for some, this accomplishment marks the successful triumph over unique obstacles that may have once seemed insurmountable.

Students with concerns about social injustice or prejudice, those who are physically challenged, shy, or studying in fields typically dominated by the opposite sex, are turning to online learning programs to further their education.

Starting Over
After getting a divorce, Lyly Ramirez, a 35-year-old mother from Central New Jersey, wanted to change her professional status as well. Ramirez, who has worked in the health care industry for 14 years, knew she'd need a bachelor's degree to advance her career. But between her responsibilities at a full-time job and caring for her children, returning to a brick-and-mortar college was not an option.

"A traditional school wasn't for me because I wouldn't be able to focus," explains the single mother. "I had to choose what was best for my family." The convenience that online learning offered was key. "I didn't have to leave the house at night to go to class," she notes.

Ramirez is not alone in balancing family and a career.

Frank Mayadas, program director at the Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C), which is comprised of institutions and organizations committed to quality online education, estimates that 40 percent of online students are women.

"Many women see online learning as a way to break out of dead-end office jobs and advance their careers," says Mayadas.

The anonymity that online learning offers also appealed to Ramirez - no one would be able to judge her based upon her age, race, or sex.

"I felt out of place. I'm 35 years old, so I'm not part of the typical 'college crowd,'" she says. "With online learning, you're essentially blind - you don't know who you're speaking to, so there is no social prejudice. You work with everyone, and their personalities live through their writing."

Ramirez, who would be considered a mature student, is not unique in this respect.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics, 49 percent of adults participated in postcompulsory learning activities in 2001, with 65 percent of participants utilizing technology as an instructional tool.

This growing trend dictates the need for more flexible learning options, which online programs fulfill.

While continuing to work 40 hours per week, the super mom enrolled in Kaplan University's business management program in 2001, and completed her associate degree in 2003. Ramirez, who received her bachelor's with high honors this past summer, also received the Sigma Beta Delta award, an honor bestowed upon students in the business management program. She plans to pursue a master's degree next. Online, of course.

"I knew that I needed a degree to be marketable, and now, just four years later, I have it," Ramirez beams. "It's all about reaching your goals."

Breaking Down Physical Barriers
Joe Valila, a wheelchair-bound clinical psychology student at Walden University, wasn't about to let his physical limitations keep him from reaching his goals.

Valila had difficulty finding a wheelchair-accessible facility to complete his externship at traditional schools. But Walden's extensive global faculty network led him to Phoenix House, a clinic in Brentwood, NY, that was close to his home and could accommodate his needs.

Valila, who has a perfect 4.0 grade point average and serves as president of Psi Chi, the school's national psychology honor society, expects to complete his dissertation and externship in just a little over a year.

In addition to meeting his physical needs, Walden's diverse environment appealed tremendously to Valila.

"My dissertation focuses on social change, so it mattered to me that the school I attended was interested in that. Walden is - the students and faculty come from all different areas of the world and have different backgrounds," he explains.

Kaplan University student Maureen Fairhurst also turned to e-Learning because of physical challenges.

Fairhurst, who expects to complete her bachelor's degree in paralegal studies in the next year and a half, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2001.

"I always wanted to go back to college, but it was physically impossible for me," says the Brooklyn, NY-based paralegal. Despite the diagnosis, however, she was determined.

"I wasn't going to let my illness deter me from achieving my goal."

During her last semester at Kaplan, Fairhurst suffered a seizure and had to be hospitalized. Nonetheless, she achieved an A in her legal research class, one of the most challenging in the paralegal program.

"Every professor I've had has been fantastic to me. After my seizure, I was given a few extra days to complete my final project. I never get C's, D's, or F's - I take pride in my work," Fairhurst explains.

Next up for this mother of three: Attending Concord Law School, a Kaplan affiliate. She hopes to obtain her law degree by February 2009, and has already discussed opening a legal practice with a classmate, who has also become a close friend.

"A lot of people think online learning is easy, but the work is harder than in traditional school because you are doing more in less time," she says. "It's worth it, though. You should never give up on your dreams."

Wallflowers Unite
Online learning was like a dream come true for Cheryl Becerra. The 26-year-old Westwood College Online graduate from Bronx, NY, used to be held back by her shy personality - until she completed an associate degree in graphic design in December 2004.

"I'm a very shy person, so talking to people online made it easier for me to have what would normally be face-to-face interaction."

Peter Cervieri, founder of Scribe Studio, a New York-based distance learning platform provider, says that online learning empowers students to take more risks than they normally would in a brick-and-mortar classroom.

"In an online environment, you're anonymous. You don't have to speak on the spot - you can revise your comments before posting them - so you're more willing to ask questions and participate," he says.

Due to the newfound confidence Becerra gained in completing her associate degree, she plans to return to Westwood for her bachelor's degree in graphic design.

It's a Man's World - Or Is It?
Pursuing a career path dominated by the opposite sex can also shake one's confidence and produce some awkward moments.

Traditionally speaking, nursing is not a man's profession. But through an online program offered by University of Phoenix Online, Steven Giompoletti has successfully entered a 'pink-collar' world.

One of four males in a nursing class of 65 students, 28-year-old Giompoletti quickly discovered the job security the profession offers.

"I liked the flexibility of nursing such as the hours, areas I could work in, and the wide variety of hospitals that exist for employment," she says.

He also found that being in the minority wasn't necessarily a drawback.

"While I was in nursing school, the male-to-female ratio was one male to every 15 women," he recalls. So there were plenty of 'big sisters' and 'mothers' to help along the way."

Online learning also helped Giompoletti overcome some preconceived notions he had about the profession.

"I do remember having some apprehension about the stigmas associated with being a male nurse.

I thought I would be perceived as less masculine than most men, but in truth, this is not the case. Most other men cannot understand how a person could have the energy to work in such a stressful environment," he explains.

Giompoletti also credits eLearning with enabling him to successfully manage a high-stress career: "You have to be self-driven in the online environment, and I've had to adapt to this situation."