Cameron Theyard was only 14 when he filmed his first wedding.
By 18, he had a production studio in downtown Lafayette and a fast-growing client list.
Still, earning a degree was never optional.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have a free moment in the day, but I come from a family of educators, so the importance of having a degree to fall back on was something they really instilled in me,鈥 he says.
He enrolled at the 91制片厂在线观看 of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2021 as a marketing major, but the demands of in-person classes soon clashed with the pace of his growing business.
鈥淢y schedule was just too busy for all those in-person classes,鈥 says Theyard. 鈥淪o Ms. Sharon Gregory, an advisor in the 91制片厂在线观看 College, laid out different options for me. She told me about an online program where I could still minor in business but work at my own pace.鈥
That鈥檚 when he made the switch to UL Lafayette鈥檚 online Bachelor of General Studies program, where he gained the freedom to keep building his brand without putting his education on hold.
Building a Brand and a Bachelor鈥檚 at the Same Time
By 2023, Theyard鈥檚 ventures were taking off. He launched The Marketing Yard, a full-service creative agency, and expanded his downtown studio into a rentable space for photographers and content creators.
Business was booming, and the workload wasn鈥檛 letting up. UL Lafayette鈥檚 online general studies program gave him the flexibility he needed to keep everything moving.
His days were packed with shoots, team meetings, and client calls. At night, he shifted focus to coursework.
鈥淭hat flexibility was really important because my schedule was slammed,鈥 he says. 鈥淏ut with the online program, I was able to do my homework and assignments at night. That made it work with my schedule.鈥
Staying the Course
As his coursework progressed, so did his brand portfolio.
During his last year of the program, Theyard launched The Candle Yard, an e-commerce store offering dessert-inspired candles. Around the same time, he and his mom began developing The Wilyard, a wedding and event venue in Lafayette鈥檚 Sterling Grove Historic District.
Having a solid support system was critical for his academic and professional success.
鈥淚 have a team that helps with the business side, and my mom made sure I stayed on top of school, reminding me to check Moodle,鈥 he says. 鈥淪o the challenge was really just making time.鈥
His instructors, many of whom followed his work in the community, were flexible when business picked up.
鈥淭hey always worked with me. It was a supportive experience all around,鈥 says Theyard.
What started as a safety net became a springboard.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to use what I鈥檝e learned to grow my business, be a better leader, and continue developing my marketing and business management skills,鈥 he says.
Real-World Experience, Real-World Results
Though Theyard鈥檚 college experience was untraditional, the return on investment was clear.
鈥淚 may not have been at all the football games or parties, but I still got the full academic experience, while also getting that real-world experience, too,鈥 he says.
His advice to other students? Don鈥檛 sell yourself short.
鈥淵ou might see majors like nursing or engineering, and think, 鈥榃ow, that鈥檚 really impressive,鈥欌 he says. 鈥淏ut in this program, we have students doing big things, too. The possibilities are limitless with a degree like this.鈥
Ready to build your own path? Explore the online Bachelor of General Studies program at UL Lafayette.
