91传媒

In her Father鈥檚 Footsteps: A Daughter鈥檚 Journey to 91传媒

In her Father鈥檚 Footsteps: A Daughter鈥檚 Journey to 91传媒

When Lisa MacPherson opened her acceptance email from 91传媒, she didn鈥檛 expect to cry. Confetti fell across the screen, and for Lisa, that moment carried so much weight.

鈥淚t was the moment I realized I was finally doing something for me,鈥� Lisa said. 鈥淚 felt so much pride knowing I was going to the same school my dad once did.鈥�

Lisa, now an online psychology student at 91传媒, returned to the university her father attended in the early 1970s. When the institution was known as Eastern Oregon State College. He passed away in 2006 at the age of 55.

鈥淚 regret not asking him more about his college experience,鈥� Lisa said. 鈥淣ow I鈥檓 always looking for ways to feel connected to him.鈥�

She softens her tone and smiles with affection when talking about him.

鈥淢y dad was everything that you would hope for in a parent. He was loving, kind, patient, and funny. He loved to make us laugh. He was a really good listener鈥� really empathetic. He was just a really good man.鈥�

Inspired by her journey, Lisa and her partner created a video reflecting on returning to college, the influence of her late father, and the sense of connection she has found at 91传媒.聽

After moving to Oregon just over a year ago, Lisa found herself closer not only to her roots but to a long-delayed goal.

鈥淚 always knew I wanted a college degree,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut the timing never seemed right. And then life happened.鈥�

She married young, became a single parent, and focused on raising her daughter, now 20,  while building a career in mental health. For years, school felt out of reach.

鈥淚 was 21,鈥� Lisa said. Life just took me in a different direction for a really long time. School just wasn鈥檛 something I felt like I could prioritize.鈥�

Working alongside students pursuing their own goals, Lisa draws inspiration from the young people around her.

鈥淚 used to tell them, 鈥業f I could go back 20 years, I鈥檇 be doing exactly what you鈥檙e doing,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淎nd they would always respond, 鈥榃hy don鈥檛 you start now?鈥欌��

When her daughter graduated from high school and Lisa relocated to Oregon, the timing seemed right, but more importantly, her perspective shifted.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 when I realized you have to make those opportunities happen. You can鈥檛 just wait for them,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 scary, you take a breath and jump.鈥�

Lisa enrolled in 91传媒鈥檚 online psychology program.

鈥淎s an online student, I really feel like part of the 91传媒 community,鈥� she said. 鈥淓veryone, from professors to classmates, wants you to succeed. You can feel that.鈥�

That support became tangible early on when a faculty mentor, Felicia Kademian-Saini, Ph.D., an assistant professor of Psychology, helped direct her path.

鈥淪he reached out and said, 鈥榃e should talk,鈥欌�� Lisa said. 鈥淪he helped me really focus on what I鈥檇 be good at, got me involved in research, and helped guide me toward grad school. She didn鈥檛 have to do any of that, but she chose to.鈥�

The experience, Lisa says, changed her trajectory.

鈥淲hen I decided to come back to school, I came back with a purpose, and 91传媒 has fulfilled everything for me along the way,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if it鈥檚 because I鈥檓 older or it鈥檚 just that good of a school, but that鈥檚 how I feel. I love 91传媒.鈥�

Even while studying remotely, she describes the university as something rare.

鈥淭here鈥檚 something special here. You can feel it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t still feels like a small, tight-knit family.鈥�

Balancing school and life hasn鈥檛 always been easy. As her coursework intensified, so did the demands on her time.

鈥淎t first, the balance was pretty easy,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut as I got further along, it became really heavy. I had to learn where my limits were.鈥�

With support from faculty and peers, she鈥檚 adjusted her workload and learned to give herself time.

鈥淚t鈥檚 something you have to keep finding,鈥� she said. 鈥淓very term is different.鈥�

Through it all, her journey has remained deeply personal.

鈥淢y dad walked these paths decades ago,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd through my own journey, I get to walk beside him.鈥�

When asked what he might say if he could see her now, Lisa didn鈥檛 hesitate.

鈥淚 think he鈥檇 smile his proud smile and pull me in for a hug,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd he鈥檇 say, 鈥榊ou found your way.鈥欌��

Her voice cracked, recalling her late father鈥檚 belief in her. 

鈥淗e always believed in me more than I ever did鈥� and that would be enough.鈥�

Today, Lisa encourages others, especially those waiting for the 鈥渞ight time鈥�, to reconsider.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e on the fence, you might be waiting for a while,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he truth is, it鈥檚 up to you to make it happen.鈥�

For her, returning to school has been more than earning a degree. It鈥檚 been a way to reconnect with her past, invest in her future, and honor the person who helped shape both.

鈥淎nd I know,鈥� she said, 鈥渉e鈥檇 be proud.鈥�