NATCHITOCHES – Shawna Pike and her daughter, Addison Berg, will begin classes together this fall at Northwestern State University’s Shreveport campus, where they will experience college from two different stages of life.
Pike first attended college after graduating from high school in 1995 but later put her education on hold. She returned in 2017 before pausing her studies again after the birth of her third child. This fall, she will resume working toward an Associate of Science in Nursing degree with plans to continue into the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
“Now is the time to go back and finish my nursing degree at almost 50 years old,” Pike said. “I am going to do the RN program and then go to the BSN program.”
Pike said beginning college alongside her daughter will make the transition back to the classroom easier.
“My daughter just graduated from high school this year. We both were able to go to school at the same time, so she decided to come live with us,” Pike said. “I think it’s actually going to be a little bit easier. I’ve got somebody that I love and that I know we can work together. We can learn about this experience together since it’s kind of new for me, too, simply going back, so it’ll be easy to have that extra relationship and comfort and being able to talk to each other about what it’s like now in 2026.”
Berg said she looks forward to experiencing college alongside her mother.
“I’m actually really excited,” Berg said. “I didn’t know at first that she was going back, but I think it’s really cool that I can experience something new to me and also kind of new to her at the same time and be able to share something like that.”
Pike said returning to college has reinforced her belief that pursuing a degree is possible at any stage of life.
“Absolutely, I think you’re never too old to go back,” Pike said.