Three weeks, 21 days, or 504 hours. No matter how you count it, on Dec. 8, Sarah Twitty will receive a journalism degree from Ohio State that took her 20 years to achieve.But don’t get the impression that this dedicated, motivated woman was slacking off or partying the years away.”I started working when I was 15 as a secretary, and I have been working ever since,” Twitty said.Twitty, originally from Troy, N.Y., came to Columbus in 1971 at the age of 22 to be with her sister who had previously moved here. That year, Twitty took her first position at OSU as a stenographer, and has been with the university ever since.”It wasn’t until my 30th birthday that I realized how important getting an education really was,” Twitty said.Although her position at OSU had changed to an administrative assistant in African American and African Studies, she was a full-time employee and could take 10 credits under the Employee Fee Authorization policy for free. In 1980, that is what she did.”My wife is very motivated, and when she first started taking classes I knew she would finish, but no one including her really knew when,” said her husband of 26 years, Lawrence Twitty.She has had quite a challenge the past 20 years. In addition to working full time and taking a class or two a quarter, Twitty also accomplished the feat of having and raising three children; a daughter, Stacia in 1975, a son, Lawrence Jones in 1978, and another daughter, Saniosa in 1982. Twitty even made time for other activities, like being an active member in her church. “I have always loved my church,” she said. “I really enjoy helping with the puppet ministry and drama. The puppet ministry teaches children and adults important stories about values, the Bible and the church through the puppets,” she said. “It is a good tool to use, especially when you’re discussing topics that are controversial or hard to discuss openly. The drama consists of acting out scenes like the passion, or the birth of Christ.” With family, work and church as her first priorities, her education fell to the back as a low fourth. “My mom was really great while we were growing up. If I needed her for anything, like help in school, she would take a quarter off. We were definitely her first priority, and that was always very clear,” said Twitty’s daughter, Saniosa.Twitty had set goals for herself – that she would graduate by a certain year, or a certain age, but they always came and went. “It was odd seeing my oldest daughter, Stacia, graduate from OSU with a law degree, while my education was still crawling along,” Twitty said. “Stacia then went on to law school and recently just passed her bar exam. My son, Lawrence Jones, who is 22, went off to the Air Force in Germany, and finally my youngest, Saniosa, is currently a freshman at OSU.”Unfortunately, Twitty had no college preparatory courses before taking classes at OSU. She had finished high school, but took only fundamental courses. Beginning classes at OSU was a big change and a big challenge.”One thing I learned was that when you don’t understand a topic or concept in a class, talk to someone, either a teacher or a TA,” she said. “Everyone I have ever talked to at this university has been more than helpful.” She would camp out by a teachers door or hunt down a TA. if she had an important question or issue with a class, and they were all very understanding and willing to help. Although she was an “older” student balancing work and a family, Twitty received no slack or sympathy from teachers. “I had to work just as hard as everyone else, and the teachers expected just as much from me. When I was struggling, I asked for help, and that was what I got,” she said. “It was interesting when a 22 year old TA was explaining math concepts to me. At first it seemed odd, but then it was fun. I really enjoyed learning from people who were my children’s age.”Twitty decided to get a journalism degree because she loves to plan events, meet new people and coordinate things. “I just love talking to people, and learning new things while meeting new people,” she said.”I did take off time when I had each child, and when they needed things, like this summer, Saniosa was preparing to come to OSU, so I took the quarter off to help her,” Twitty said. “I knew I’d graduate some time, it was just a question of when.”As a full-time employee at OSU, she often had to rearrange her work and school schedule so they could combine. “The majority of my bosses have been very accommodating and flexible with my schedule. If I took a very early class, then I would stay late at work, or if I had to leave work a little early to make a class, then I would show up earlier,” she said. “I have been very lucky, in that many of my bosses have encouraged and helped me in continuing my education. On the occasion when I knew it would be hard to complete my job responsibilities and take classes, then I took off a quarter. Sometimes the classes were just offered at inconvenient times and I had to wait until they were offered again,” she said.Her husband Lawrence also helped and supported her, especially while the children were young. “We went into this marriage together, we had the kids together, and I expected to help out with them. It was no big deal if she was at class late, or had homework to do at night. I took them to activities and made them dinner. That is just part of marriage,” he said.”One of the hardest things has been my lack of time. I have been busy the last 20 years. Finally, I will have time to redecorate my house, take a walk in the park, and just enjoy the relaxing parts of life that I have missed,” Twitty said. “I would highly encourage any full-time OSU employee to take advantage of the 10 free credits that are offered. I have earned a wonderful degree for free, and more importantly I have learned more about life and myself than I ever thought was possible!”