A powerful personal narrative about overcoming self-doubt and societal expectations. The author shares her transformative journey from leaving school at 16 to earning advanced degrees, emphasizing that past decisions need not define future possibilities. An inspiring testament to the power of faith, mentorship, and lifelong learning.
Her Story
About Glenda
Glenda Cable, M.Ed., is an education and educational technology professional whose career has centered on helping students, faculty, and educators successfully navigate technology and online learning environments. She currently serves as an Adjunct Faculty Instructor at Sampson Community College, where she teaches CIS 110 and helps students develop foundational computer skills, including file management, internet use, and Microsoft Office applications. With more than two decades of experience in higher education and more than a decade of specialized experience with Moodle and learning management systems, Cable combines instructional knowledge with technical expertise to create supportive and accessible digital learning experiences.
Cable spent nearly 20 years at Southeastern Community College, progressing through roles including Micro Computer Lab Technician, Certiport Testing Center Administrator, Part-time Instructor, Interim Moodle Administrator, Computer Lab Supervisor, and Learning Management Systems Administrator. As an LMS administrator, she managed and maintained the college's Moodle environment, supported faculty and students, developed and managed courses, provided technology training, integrated third-party educational platforms, and helped automate course creation and enrollment processes. Following her time at Southeastern Community College, she worked remotely as a Customer Support Specialist with Open LMS, providing technical assistance, troubleshooting, user guidance, and training to educators and administrators using Moodle-based platforms.
Cable's professional journey is deeply connected to her personal commitment to education, perseverance, and service. After leaving school at age 16, she earned her GED in 1998 and later continued her education through Southeastern Community College, East Carolina University, and Liberty University, ultimately earning a master's degree in Educational/Instructional Technology. She credits her children and the instructors and mentors who believed in her with inspiring her to pursue her education and career. Today, she brings that same spirit of encouragement to her students, striving to help others build confidence and recognize their potential. Her values of family, education, hope, perseverance, and service continue to guide both her professional work and her desire to remain active in education and her community.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Glenda
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success first to my faith in God, which has given me strength, direction, and perseverance through every season of my life. My children were also a major motivation for me to return to school and continue pursuing my education. After leaving school at 16, I wanted them to see that it is never too late to make a different choice, pursue your goals, and accomplish something meaningful. I am also deeply grateful for the instructors and mentors who believed in me, especially Dennis Hansen, who recognized potential in me even when I did not always see it in myself. Their encouragement taught me to keep moving forward, believe in my abilities, and never allow difficult circumstances to determine where my story would end.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received was to never allow where I started to determine where I could go. Dennis Hansen encouraged me to keep moving forward, especially when things became difficult, and to believe in possibilities I could not always see for myself. That advice has stayed with me throughout my education and career, and it is something I now try to pass along to my own students. I want them to know that one setback, one wrong turn, or one difficult season does not have to define their future. Sometimes all it takes is someone believing in you long enough for you to begin believing in yourself.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women entering education and educational technology to believe in themselves, stay willing to learn, and never let where they started determine where they can go. My own journey taught me that there is no single path to success and that it is never too late to pursue an education, change direction, or grow into a new opportunity. Find mentors who will encourage you, learn from those around you, and do not be afraid to ask questions or take on challenges that stretch you. Most importantly, remember that your work can have a lasting impact. Sometimes simply believing in a student, coworker, or colleague can help them begin to see potential in themselves.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in education today is keeping pace with rapidly changing technology while making sure students and instructors do not feel left behind. Online learning, artificial intelligence, learning management systems, and new digital tools continue to create exciting opportunities, but they also require educators to remain flexible and committed to continuous learning. I see a tremendous opportunity to use my experience in teaching, educational technology, technical support, and faculty training to help others feel more confident with those changes. Even at this stage of my career, I still have a strong desire to contribute, support learners, and help educators use technology in ways that make education more accessible and meaningful.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are faith, family, integrity, perseverance, compassion, and a commitment to helping others. My faith in God is the foundation of how I try to live and work, and my family has always been one of my greatest sources of motivation and strength. I believe in doing the right thing, continuing to move forward even during difficult seasons, and treating people with kindness and respect. In my work, I want students and colleagues to feel supported, encouraged, and valued. I also believe that education is about more than knowledge—it is about helping people recognize their potential and giving them the confidence to keep growing.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Glenda
It's Never Too Late to Change the Direction of Your Life
It's Never Too Late to Rewrite Your Story
There was a time in my life when I could not have imagined where my journey would eventually take me.
I left school at the age of 16. At that point, earning college degrees, working in higher education, teaching students, or helping other educators with technology did not feel like part of my future. Life had taken me in a different direction, and like many women, I spent much of my time focusing on my family and the responsibilities in front of me.
But my story was not finished.
Years later, I made the decision to return to school. One of my greatest motivations was my children. I wanted them to understand something that I was also learning for myself: a decision you make when you are young does not have to determine the rest of your life.
I wanted them to see that it is never too late to make a different choice.
Returning to education was not always easy. There were moments when I questioned whether I was capable of continuing. There were times when the road ahead felt overwhelming. But God placed people in my life who encouraged me when I needed it most.
One of those people was Dennis Hansen, an instructor and mentor who saw potential in me even when I did not always see it in myself. His encouragement made a lasting difference in my life. Sometimes, one person believing in you can help you find the courage to take the next step.
I earned my GED and continued my education, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree and later a master’s degree in education. With every accomplishment, I was reminded that where I started did not have to determine where I would finish.
My journey eventually led me into higher education and educational technology. I had opportunities to teach, support faculty, work with learning management systems, train instructors, and help students navigate technology and online learning.
Over the years, I began to realize that my experiences had given me something valuable to offer others.
I understood what it felt like to doubt yourself.
I understood what it meant to start over.
And I understood the difference encouragement could make.
That has influenced the way I work with students today. Education is about much more than completing an assignment or earning a grade. Sometimes, a student simply needs someone to remind them that they are capable. They need someone to see potential beyond their current circumstances.
Because someone once did that for me, I try to do the same for others.
My faith has also been the foundation beneath every part of my journey. There have been difficult seasons, unexpected changes, and moments when I could not clearly see what came next. Through those times, my faith in God gave me the strength to continue moving forward.
I have learned that success does not always happen according to the timeline we imagine.
Sometimes success looks like beginning again.
Sometimes it means walking through a door you once believed was closed.
Sometimes it means returning to a dream years after you thought the opportunity had passed.
And sometimes it means using the difficult parts of your own story to encourage someone else.
Today, I am especially passionate about reminding women that their age, their past, or where they began does not have to limit what they can still accomplish.
You may be considering going back to school.
You may be thinking about changing careers.
You may have a dream that has been sitting quietly in your heart for years.
Or perhaps life simply did not turn out the way you once expected.
Do not assume that means your opportunity has passed.
Your path may look different from someone else’s, and that is perfectly all right.
Keep learning. Keep growing. Find people who will encourage you. Be willing to take the next step even when you cannot see the entire road ahead.
Most importantly, do not allow one chapter of your life to convince you that you already know how the story ends.
I left school at 16.
That was part of my story.
It was never meant to be the end of it.
And whatever chapter you are in today, yours does not have to be the end either.
Your next chapter may be waiting for you to simply believe that it is still possible.
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