MyUMUC Graduates

Lyndzie Carter Takes a Big Leap Toward Her Dream of Becoming a Lawyer

By: Rachel Azaroff

In high school, Lyndzie Carter, staff sergeant in the Air Force, thought becoming a lawyer was a far-fetched dream. With the help of UMUC and the Air Force, she is on her way to this achievement—she graduates this May with a BS in Legal Studies and hopes to attend Washburn School of Law in Fall 2010.

Carter is the only child of two hard-working, blue-collar parents. She will be the first in her family to graduate college.

Carter joined the Air Force at the young age of 17 for an adventure and to make attending and affording college a reality. The Air Force paid for 100 percent of her tuition while she was on active duty. “I have always dreamed about one day being able to practice law, but it was a dream that required a leap of faith…a drastic change,” she says.

For the past six years, she has worked as a Joint Nuclear Command Post Controller in the Air Force. She jokes that this does not transition well into the civilian sector, and says her UMUC degree offers her an opportunity to step into the next chapter of her life and follow her passion.

Following her first year in the Air Force, as soon as she was off “training status” allowed to take college courses, Carter enrolled in UMUC. She is very proud that she completed a four-year degree in five years. “UMUC worked with me while I was deployed, allowing me to finish classes in Tikrit, Iraq and Comayagua, Honduras,” she says, adding, “From living in a tent in Iraq to a tropical hut in Honduras, I was able to complete my education while serving my country on active duty at the same time.”

UMUC classmates encouraged Carter with their testimonies and trials. She knew if they could do it, she could too. Carter’s husband has also been a great support system. She jokes that he’s been her drill sergeant when it comes to school and work. He’s a Wichita police officer, a full-time student and balances a part-time job.

Carter couldn't wait for her big day in May to walk across the stage. Her mother and husband attended Commencement with her, and she says her mom planned on bringing a lot of tissues. Her father also made last-minute plans to fly in from Arizona. At first unable to attend because of work obligations, he pulled some strings so he could see his only child be the first in the family to graduate college. He told Carter he wouldn’t miss this occasion for the world.