Meet AIU Students and Alumni
Meet Sha-Londa Waterman
B.F.A. in Visual Communication
It's Never Too Late to Start Something New
Sha-Londa Waterman isn’t really that old; she’s a vibrant, happily married, mother of two who is 30-something. But before enrolling at AIU Dunwoody in April 2005 (a month after moving to the area from her native New York), it had been a few years since she sat in a classroom as a student. Understandably, Sha-Londa was worried she might not be able to keep up. Now, nearly a year into getting her Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication, Sha-Londa is doing more than keeping up: she’s a straight A student.
“I was terrified about starting school again. I didn’t think I would fit in or be able to keep up, but it turns out I’m doing pretty well. My A's don't come easy, but I don't mind working hard.”
Sha-Londa especially doesn’t mind working hard when she’s learning things immediately practicable to the freelance graphic design she has been doing for friends and acquaintances for the past 10 years. “I’ve been doing logo design for years, but I never really knew there was a career field out there for it. I had always done my work on PowerPoint and Microsoft Publisher, but I’ve learned that both are outdated. At AIU, I'm learning to use the more sophisticated graphic design software. It takes my design work to the next level.”
It’s not just because of AIU Dunwoody that Sha-Londa is succeeding in her career, though. “My husband and two kids are great support.” Sha-Londa’s four-year-old daughter is often drawing and painting right next to Sha-Londa. Her two-year-old son isn’t quite there yet, “but he does enjoy throwing all my supplies around.”
“My husband thinks what I’m doing is great. Watching me develop new talents and perfecting old ones, he’s inspired by me. Earning my BFA degree in a graphic design field is a good experience for the whole family.”
Sha-Londa also has her mother and sister’s support. Both have themselves returned to school as adult learners. At the age of 47, and starting from a 6th grade education, Sha-Londa’s mother obtained her degree in Hospitality Management. "I come from a line of resilient and determined black women,” Sha-Londa says.
Back to Student/Alumni Profiles