Editor’s note: Leading up to the Dec. 19 commencement ceremony, UALR will highlight stories about noteworthy graduate candidates who have interesting or inspiring stories to share. This submitted story features Ronnie L. Kroepfl, who is expected to earn her conflict mediation graduate certificate.

Ronnie L. Kroepfl decided she wasn’t going to slow down.

She wanted more in life — to feel vibrant, to have a purpose, to contribute.

At 40, she decided to learn to belly dance, a lifelong desire fulfilled. At 50, she learned to ride a bike and, at 53, she reached her goal of riding 300 miles in a year.

Then, at 54, she scribbled some numbers on a sticky note and said, “I can afford this,” so she went back to school to pursue a graduate certificate in conflict mediation at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

She had the hope of financially growing in her career and of building her abilities to keep moving forward. She wanted to keep contributing and to make more money, because, well, the future isn’t cheap.

Her first class in conflict mediation was intimidating. In fact, it terrified her. It was a weekend course, as all her classes have been — one semester squeezed into two weekends.

Spending morning to night away from family, immersed in a subject and then coming home with homework at the end of the day was almost overwhelming.

Kroepfl typed out the papers, sent text message apologies to those who wanted her attention, and kissed her family as she left in the morning and came home at night. When the first course was finished, she did not think she could do it again.

Still, she stuck with it. Kroepfl kept taking courses, throughout the summer, while juggling management of her family and foster children and while managing her husband’s writing career. She kept her full-time job and attended conferences across the country that kept her informed.

Kroepfl did it all while battling rheumatoid arthritis.

Fortunately, teachers saw the commitment she put into their courses. Each encouraged her to keep going and pointed her to new opportunities. From that first course to the last one, Kroepfl went from a frightened returning student who felt out of place among her classmates to an old pro who, before the last course begun, had her research done and the outline of a paper ready to go.

Kroepfl has not looked back and has a plan in the works for the next step in her career.

She will not be slowed down.