Utah woman learned to manage chronic illnesses to pursue goals at Weber State
OGDEN, Utah — Elizabeth Poe’s love for learning always fueled her dream of going to college, but it wasn’t until she learned to manage her chronic illnesses that she enrolled at Weber State University to pursue a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree.
Poe lives with fibromyalgia, gastroparesis and chronic fatigue syndrome, illnesses that began affecting her at age 12, but took years to diagnose. The pain and physical exhaustion made it hard for Poe to attend college.
With the help of family and health professionals, Poe found ways to manage her disabilities and began college at age 25.
The most significant change she made was getting a wheelchair, a solution that alleviates pain and fatigue caused by walking. She also applied for federal financial aid resources to help pay for expenses, including college.
WSU was the right choice for Poe, who said she was influenced by family members who studied and worked here.
“Weber State makes it way easier to start school at a later age, or with certain disabilities,” she said. “I feel incredibly lucky to go to a school that offers so much and asks for so little tuition relative to other schools.”
And with the BIS degree program, she didn’t have to choose between her three passions: music, linguistics and literature.
There are 220 students currently enrolled in the BIS program, which allows them to combine three areas of study to create a unique major that prepares them for specific career goals or graduate school. After an in-depth study of each area, students develop a capstone project that merges their knowledge from all three disciplines.
“Many important questions in our world are better addressed using insights from multiple disciplines,” said Álvaro La Parra-Pérez, economics professor and assistant director of the BIS program. “The rigorous training of the BIS students and their willingness to think outside the box are critically important assets that make them very competitive in the labor market.”
Poe couldn't pass up the opportunity to join Weber State's music program, having developed a passion for singing at a young age. Her equal love for literature and fascination with linguistics made the BIS degree the perfect choice. Although she hasn't selected a capstone project, she’s interested in conducting a deep-dive comparison into musicals and plays to merge the three disciplines.
Despite the challenges she faced to get to WSU, Poe remained positive and relied on the people in her life for support. “A lot of us have it really hard in many different ways, but it’s hard to hold the weight of what you’re facing by yourself,” she said.
Poe is grateful for her experiences at WSU and the relationships she’s built over the past three years.
“Connecting with people who support and love one another has added to my overall mood and fulfillment,” she said. “The people here managing the school genuinely want to do good in the world and for students.”
Poe is determined to learn as much as she can at WSU and wants to continue studying linguistics beyond a bachelor’s degree.
She encourages everyone to follow their passion, find community and discover things worth living for, as she has at Weber State.
“No matter what disabilities, health struggles or problems you face, you’re worthy of happiness,” Poe said.
Erika Gonzalez Lara, Marketing & Communications
801-626-7948, erikagonzalezlara@weber.edu- Contact:
Bryan Magaña, public relations director
801-626-7948, bryanmagana@weber.edu