How Shelbie Lynne Ayles Earned Her BA in Psychology to Help Others

Shelbie Lynne Ayles ‘25 didn't take a traditional path to earning her degree.

After losing her grandfather in high school, she said continuing her studies felt impossible. She left school, completed her GED and tried nursing, but discovered it wasn't for her. “I went into something that had more of my heart,” said Ayles.

That something was psychology, which is why she earned her bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in sociology at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

According to Ayles, it was her own experience in therapy that was the deciding factor when it came to choosing her program. “I've gone through a lot in life, and I reached out, got a therapist, did a lot of self-work,” she said.

Knowing someone was there to talk to was gratifying, Ayles noted. "There's ways that you can work through things, and you don't always have to live with your trauma," she said. "And so, I wanted to be able to help other people with that.”

‘Your Degree is a Part of You’

Ayles said that SNHU’s online degree format fit her busy and sometimes challenging life. “It was very convenient,” she said. “It was just easy for me to manage being a general manager… getting married, losing family members. And it was… all around, just easy for me to be able to complete the work that needed to get done and be able to have the degree.”

According to Ayles, her academic advisor, Jessica Collins, was a support throughout. “I loved her. She’s so sweet, and she always reach(ed) out,” she said.

For others considering going back to school, Ayles offered some advice: “Just believe in yourself,” she said. “No matter what life throws at you, at the end of the day, only you can prevent the forest fires that are happening around you."

She said it's important to keep the focus on you. "Because, at the end of the day, your degree is a part of you," Ayles said. "It speaks volumes about the personality that you have."

Rebecca Cahill '26 is a content marketing assistant and writer at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). She completed her bachelor’s in creative writing and English at SNHU and is now pursuing a master's in English and creative writing. Based in Ohio, she has also written for FreshWater Cleveland and The Land and serves on the board of Literary Cleveland. When she’s not writing, you'll most likely find her nose in a book, dogs at her side, surrounded by way too many houseplants. Connect with her on LinkedIn.