Mike DeWolfe already knew he could do the work. What he didn’t know, for years, was why the work kept falling apart.

His first attempt at Salem State University in Salem, Massachusetts (political science, philosophy, a passing interest in law school) ended not because of the subject matter but because of something he couldn’t name yet. He wasn’t going to classes. He was losing track of assignments. He felt isolated and overwhelmed by a spiral he couldn’t explain: the more he struggled, the more he blamed himself, which only made everything harder.

Eventually, he left school.

A life-changing diagnosis

When Mike was in his thirties, a doctor gave him a diagnosis he wasn’t expecting: attention deficit disorder (ADD).

“I told him, ‘No, I don’t,’ He said, ‘I can tell from sitting in the room with you that you have ADD.'”

The diagnosis was revelatory. After starting treatment, Mike felt something he’d never experienced before. “I felt like I could function. It was night and day.”

Understanding his ADD explained the spirals, the inability to track deadlines, the feeling of being lost. But the diagnosis alone wasn’t enough. Mike knew that going back to school would require more than medication, it would require a plan.

“I did a lot of soul-searching about why I stopped out in the first place,” he says. “I realized I needed structure, accountability, and support.”

Finding a new path: geography and sustainability

Through his doctor’s recommendation, Mike connected with the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC), which not only provided funding for school but also offered comprehensive career testing. After four hours of assessments, the results pointed him toward hands-on scientific work in geography and geology, something he’d never considered.

Salem State had a geography and sustainability program, and sustainability mattered to Mike. He wanted work that aligned with his values, not just a paycheck. “I don’t know that I was put on this earth to generate value for shareholders,” he explains, reflecting on his previous career in planning. “I’d like to feel like I’m doing something more positive.”

This time, when Mike re-enrolled, he received an email from ReUp. It was just what he needed to keep himself accountable and provide the structure he needed. He was paired with Coach Skye, and that partnership became a cornerstone of his success.

Accountability in action

For three years, Mike and ReUp Success Coach Skye met monthly. Their conversations aren’t just check-ins, they’re problem-solving sessions, planning sessions, and a place where Mike can organize his thoughts out loud.

“I probably wouldn’t be here without ReUp. Just knowing I have to check in with Skye motivates me. I can’t tell her I didn’t do something so I make sure I get it done.” — Mike DeWolfe

But Coach Skye offers more than accountability. “When I have a problem, it can feel impossible in my own head,” Mike shares. “Talking it through with Skye helps me see solutions I couldn’t before.”

Skye has watched Mike’s growth over their years together. “Mike brought this self-awareness from day one about what didn’t work before and what support he needed,” she reflects. “Even when things totally took a turn, he found ways to stay true to his goals. That’s been very inspiring.”

Choosing school over security

In December, Mike was laid off from his planning job. He faced a choice: find another similar position or commit fully to finishing his degree.

He chose school.

“I looked at planning jobs and thought, it’s not what I’m passionate about. It’s not my forever job,” he says. He made the tough decision to become a full-time student, focusing entirely on his coursework.

“It hasn’t been easy. Managing ADD is an ongoing challenge.” Bureaucratic tasks: forms, deadlines, administrative processes remain difficult.

But he’s developed strategies. “If I look at everything I need to do for the semester all at once, I get overwhelmed and shut down,” he explains. “So I focus on what needs to be done today. I make it digestible.”

And there’s something else driving him: stubbornness. “I refuse to fail,” Mike says simply. “When I made up my mind to do this, that was it.”

A perfect record, a fresh start

Mike now holds a 4.0 GPA, made possible in part by Salem State’s Fresh Start program, which gave him a clean academic slate while preserving credits from classes he’d passed years ago.

But when asked about his proudest milestone, Mike doesn’t mention the grades.

“The biggest milestone was deciding to go back to school, even without any previous success to build on,” he says. “I didn’t have a semester behind me to say ‘I can do this.’ I just had to decide and commit.”

That decision is what he’s built everything else on. Now, with graduation planned for spring 2026, Mike can look back at semesters of success and say with confidence: “I succeeded last semester. There’s no reason to think I won’t succeed this semester.”

Higher education used to feel like an obligation to Mike, something people pushed him to do, something he was supposed to want. Twenty years of perspective shifted that completely.

“For me, higher education went from being an obligation to an asset,” he says. “That change in perspective changed everything.”

He’s not just earning a degree now. He’s building toward a career he believes in, one focused on geography, geology, and sustainability. He’s proving to himself what’s possible when you have the right support and refuse to give up.

Advice for other adult learners

Looking back, Mike sees his path clearly: a first attempt that didn’t work, years of questions, a diagnosis that explained everything, and a second chance built on self-awareness and support.

“I wasn’t understanding it.” he reflects on his success. “I really don’t think I would be where I am without my monthly meetings with Skye. It’s been invaluable”