GRAYSLAKE, IL (July 25, 2011) – As a teenager, Teresa Williams was forced to care for her younger siblings because of their parents’ alcoholism and mental illness. Her plans to attend college fell by the wayside.

So did her life. She spent ten years as a homeless addict.

Today she looks to complete a bachelor’s degree in business administration or nonprofit management at North Park University in December 2012. She is pursuing the degree through the university’s School of Adult Learning.

Williams began her college education by earning an associate’s degree in business administration from the College of Lake County in May 2010, graduating with honors.

Williams says she didn’t know whether she would pursue a degree past her associate’s, but North Park’s connection with the Lake County school’s program for adult students enabled her to continue.

“When I first started, I couldn’t always see that far ahead,” Williams says. “However, when North Park agreed to accept all my credits, that made a big difference. Just because it wasn’t a ‘transferable’ class didn’t mean you didn’t learn everything you were supposed to learn.”

Williams has demonstrated the determination to make the most of her new opportunities. “Over the past six-plus years, I have successfully managed school on a part-time basis, juggled full-time and part-time jobs simultaneously – working seven days per week – and maintained a busy household,” she says.

Williams says she would like her next career to include helping others the way she has been helped along the way.