When her husband was killed in a car accident in 2005, Carolyn Schwartz had to figure out how to take care of herself and her family.

After 23 years as a stay-at-home mother, Schwartz, now 48, of Knox, had to take some time to think about what she wanted to do with her future.

"I needed to be able to earn an income and have a career to support my family," she said. "It took me two years to say 'I'm going into nursing' and do it."

When she was 21 years old, Schwartz was a nursing student in Dayton, Ohio, but dropped out of school to get married and start a family.

"At that time, I knew I wanted to do something to serve people. When I began pondering which direction I wanted to take after Gary died, it seemed reasonable to go back and fulfill that dream," Schwartz said.

She returned to school, at Valparaiso University in 2007, as a nursing major. She's spent the first couple of years fulfilling the prerequisites and has just begun the accelerated bachelor of nursing program. She expects to finish in August 2010.

"It was extremely challenging to go back to school when I did. Every day was a challenge. Each class was a new challenge," she said. "I wasn't very computer literate. I've enjoyed the growth and development I've experienced. I wouldn't trade it for anything despite the difficulty."

Janet Brown, who is dean of the Valparaiso University College of Nursing, called Schwartz "a true example of how the adult learner can really excel."

Schwartz has five children, two of whom are still at home. She said she tried working for a while as a teacher's aide but found with day classes, it simply wasn't possible to maintain the job. She juggles classes with cooking, cleaning, chauffeuring and playing mother and father. Schwartz said she doesn't have the time to volunteer at the school like she used to, but she does make every special event or program that her children are involved in.

This summer will be especially busy for her: she is taking four classes "smashed" into six weeks. She plans to take 17 credit hours in the fall.

As for her advice to people, young and old, who are considering going to back to school, Schwartz said she would tell them "to take it one day at a time and don't let fear hold you back."