“Be Brave.”  

Jennifer Schumacher’s new life motto after stepping away from the corporate world, tossing the 9-to-5 routine and facing a new challenge—returning to college.  

With bachelor’s degrees in business and finance and 30+ years in the corporate world, Eric and Jennifer Schumacher retired from their job to pursue bucket list items including traveling across Canada, Europe, and Northern Africa. After their travels, it was time for them to tackle another item from their bucket list: making an impact.  

While they loved their work, the Schumacher’s wanted to make an impact beyond the corporate world. Both Eric and Jennifer had creative passions during their time in the corporate world. Eric had always practiced photography and screen printing during his free time and Jennifer wanted to expand her knowledge of graphic design.  

“Creativity is not something that was expected in my profession. But with my knowledge and ambition for the craft, I found a way to pursue the more creative side of the field I was part of for more than thirty years,” Jennifer shared. 

By May 2023, they were ready to take action. Jennifer felt drawn to the creative field, realizing that graphic design concepts complemented her corporate experience. 

“I welded the two and realized that I could utilize both those [business and finance] skills,” she said. 

The Schumachers decided to explore Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) after reading about the curriculum and career opportunities in the Graphic Design program. Jennifer reached out to Dr. Hope Carroll, Director of Graphic Design and Business Programs, to schedule a campus visit and learn more about the program.  

Dr. Carroll welcomed Jennifer into the Graphic Design lab, showcasing the creative spaces, academic projects, and pathways to achieving her goals at CVCC. She also encouraged Jennifer and Eric to attend the Spring 2023 Open House. 

The timing was perfect for Eric, too. While touring the Graphic Design department, he met Joe Young, Director of the Photographic Technology program. From that moment, the Schumachers felt right at home at CVCC. 

During the Open House, Jennifer participated in hands-on activities, including button-making. As she designed her button, she carefully selected the words: Be Brave. 

Dr. Carroll noticed the motto and asked, “What do you need to be brave for?” 

“I had to be brave in that moment,” Jennifer explained. She had just upended her old routine, left her job, and embraced a new challenge—returning to college as a non-traditional student. “That’s my new life motto,” she said. 

After attending the Open House, both Jennifer and Eric felt a renewed sense of belonging in the college environment. They explored CVCC’s Fine Arts programs, leading Jennifer to enroll in the Graphic Design program and Eric to join the Photographic Technology program. 

That fall, they officially became full-time, non-traditional students. 

Returning to college as adult learners was daunting. After years in the professional world, the Schumachers weren’t sure if they would fit in with their fellow Red Hawks or how they would be received by younger classmates. However, they quickly found that the class dynamics and instructional support exceeded their expectations. 

The couple also brought a fresh perspective to the classroom—not only sharing their corporate experience with students but also engaging in meaningful, open-minded discussions with instructors. 

“Community college is a really great place to find the sort of start that Jennifer and Eric were looking for,” Dr. Carroll explains. “Community college is mixed. The focus is on building skills, and there’s a lot of different technologies you have to learn.” 

The Schumachers embraced these learning opportunities, mastering Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator while gaining hands-on experience through their coursework. 

And they didn’t stop there. 

Jennifer proudly represented CVCC in the 2024 SkillsUSA Championships. She traveled to the state conference in Greensboro, NC, where her CVCC team won Gold for “Promotional Bulletin Board.” They then advanced to the SkillsUSA National Championships in Atlanta, GA, where they once again secured Gold for their outstanding work. 

Meanwhile, Eric represented CVCC at Imaging USA, a conference hosted by the Professional Photographers of America. He was selected as part of a small group of students who traveled to Kentucky for the event. 

The Schumachers also took the initiative to give back by volunteering at CVCC’s Open House. They assisted Dr. Carroll and Joe Young, sharing their journey with prospective students. Exactly one year after their own Open House experience, they found themselves on the other side—advocating for the same opportunities that had changed their lives. 

“Something that attracted us to these degrees is flexibility,” Jennifer adds. “We wanted something we could do independently but also collaborate on together.” 

Once they complete their degrees, the Schumachers plan to work as freelance creatives, balancing work, travel, and professional connections. 

“We wanted to blend both of our degrees together and be a team,” Eric says. “That was our goal.” 

For Eric and Jennifer, retirement wasn’t about slowing down—it was about rewiring, not retiring. They’ve proven that it’s never too late to learn, grow, and pursue new passions.