From the outset, all four of them shared the same dream: they wanted to gain a university degree. Now they all share something else: Success!

Without leaving the Island, Nichole McHardy, Felicia Nichols, Takiyah Tucker and Ronisa DeFontes have all achieved their dream, thanks to the Canada's Mount St. Vincent University Distance Learning Programme, which is offered through the Bermuda College.

The quartet readily admit that the course was tough and demanding, and definitely not for the faint-hearted. Instead, it required application, dedication, sacrifice, and determination to conquer, but now that they have graduated they have no doubt that the years spent pursuing their goals were well worth it.

Nichole McHardy graduated from Warwick Secondary School in 1986 and went on to gain her bookkeeping certificate at the Bermuda College in 1988, following which she worked, first as an accounting clerk and then in accounts payable. At age 23 she decided to follow her dream of becoming a qualified accountant and moved to Atlanta, Georgia where she completed three years of a four-year degree programme at Morris Brown College before returning to Bermuda with her husband, Tyrone. The birth of their son, Noah followed, but Mrs. McHardy clung to her dream.

"My husband had finished his degree, and now it was my turn because we are both very goal oriented, but rather than going back to Atlanta, I decided that the Mount St. Vincent distance learning programme was the perfect opportunity for me to complete my degree," she says. "Also, I could definitely save money on living expenses and room and board by doing it at home."

Like her fellow students, Mrs. McHardy found that the programme, which she says was an amalgamation of Bermuda College and Mount St. Vincent courses, had the same value and degree of difficulty she would have experienced studying abroad.

Throughout their studies, all four graduates attended day as well as evening classes, thanks to supportive employers and families who were solidly behind them.

"We had four night classes a week, and homework didn't begin until after 9.30 p.m. It took a lot of leaning on each other because we had a lot of group study at my house - sometimes until 4 a.m. or 5 a.m.," Mrs. McHardy says.

At other times some would study until around 2 a.m., get some sleep, and get up again around 4 a.m. to continue studying until they went to work at 9 a.m.

"It does take a lot of commitment because you have to know what you are trying to accomplish that day," Mrs. McHardy says. "You are going to work, you have four evening classes a week, then you have to go home and start your homework."

Now employed as an assistant auditor in the Accountant General's department, the busy wife and mother is already aiming for her next goal: to sit her Chartered Public Accountant (CPA) examination next year.

As proof of the merits of following one's dreams, Mrs. McHardy says to others of like mind: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with the very first step."

Following her graduation from Berkeley Institute, Ronisa DeFontes went on to gain her Associate degree in Arts and Business Administration at Bermuda College. Plans to go to Georgia State University were scuppered when severe injuries in a 1999 car accident prevented her from travelling for a year. But this was a cloud with a silver lining, for along came the Mount St. Vincent programme, which meant the young mother could pursue her dreams more economically, while at the same time holding a part-time job and receiving the love and support of her family.

"They helped me to take care of my daughter, who is my inspiration and motivation to do my best, and were very supportive, so it actually worked out better for me," Mrs. DeFontes says.

Still, it was no easy road for she not only worked several part-time jobs, but also during her final year managed to plan her July wedding, just ten days after classes ended. In reflecting on her success, she pays tribute to former boss, Stationery Store manager William McKenna, who not only accommodated her study schedule but gave her great encouragement and advice. Similarly, at her second job at Miles Market during the evenings and at weekends, staff regularly rewarded her for goals achieved.

"That made me even more eager to get ahead," Mrs. DeFontes says.

Looking back over the programme, the wife and mother enjoyed the bond the four students formed, and the mutual encouragement that grew from that. She also liked the fact that the College allocated them their own study room and, in terms of choices, how much it had progressed since the programme first began.

Today, she is a trainee medical underwriter at BF&M, and intends to make insurance her career - ironically, thanks to being pushed into the subject as an elective.

"During that time I learned all the different aspects of insurance, and it was ideally the way to go in Bermuda right now," she says. "I intend to continue my studies in the insurance field by taking the Life Office Management Association (LOMA) exams, getting my Fellow Life Management Institute (FLMI) designation, and also sitting the underwriter exam."

Eventually, Mrs. DeFontes plans gain her Master's degree in Business Administration, and advises anyone interested in furthering their education to consider the Bermuda College/Mount St. Vincent Distance Learning programme.

"It offers a valuable learning experience, and a chance to grow as an individual," she says.

After participating in the Young Enterprise programme at Berkeley Institute, during which she learned the basics of running a business, Felicia Nichols knew instinctively where her future lay.

"I wanted to become an entrepreneur, so in order to reach that target I had to make a list of small goals to get myself there, and one of the first objectives was to attend the Bermuda College, where I received an Associate degree in Business Administration," she says.

Logically, the next goal was to attend university, but Ms Nichols was not excited about leaving her Island home.

However, standing at this crossroad in her life, she also knew that she needed a sound education in order to achieve her goals. After days of contemplation, she learned about the Bermuda College/Mount St. Vincent Distance Learning programme through which she could gain her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

"I jumped at the opportunity, and found myself in a challenging yet most rewarding experience," she says.

The local solution also meant Miss Nichols could gain work experience and, like her fellow students, she was fully supported and encouraged by her employer, the Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Ltd., where she is in the Investment Services Department.

"I was fortunate because, as a result of staying in Bermuda to continue my education, I was able to gain work experience concurrently at the Bank, which worked with my schedule, and gave me time off to study and sit my exams.

"This was an advantage for me because many exempt companies and local businesses require not only a Bachelor's degree, but also two to five years' work experience," Miss Nichols says.

Asked what she particularly liked about the distance learning programme, the new graduate pinpointed its flexibility because the timetable allowed sufficient time for her to complete assignments.

Nonetheless, she acknowledged that it was no easy ride, and required a mature approach.

"It takes a lot of dedication and time management, so you need the drive to get things done. It is important to use time management and concentrate. Fortunately, I am a very organised person," she says.

Miss Nichols pays tribute to the support of her family and fianc?, without which she would have found it much more challenging to get through the programme.

Now, she says "it feels great" to have her Bachelor of Business Administration degree because it means she is "one step closer" to achieving her long-term goals.

"I want to be a management trainee. From there I haven't really decided yet."

When she left Berkeley Institute in 1995, Takiyah Tucker headed straight to Bermuda College, where she gained her Associate's degree in Business Administration four years later, and used those credits to enrol in the Bermuda College/Mount St. Vincent Distance Learning programme.

"This allowed me to remain in the comfort of my own home, be surrounded by family and friends, and also work three part-time jobs," she says. "I didn't mind working because the hours were flexible at all three places, and sometimes I could pull out my books. They all knew I was in school and would schedule me when I was available."

Miss Tucker admits that there were times during the course when she felt overwhelmed and frustrated, mainly because of the difference in the style of classes. Whereas previously she was used to a teacher standing at the front lecturing, as its name implied, the distance learning programme relied more on conference calls and other technology.

"Not having the visual concept was something I had to get used to, but once I did I found out that I was learning the same way," she says. "You have to put more emphasis on self-study, and try harder to make yourself understand what is going on, but the teachers were very supportive. They even gave you their home phone numbers. You didn't give up if you didn't understand something, and you always had to go the extra length to ensure you received the understanding you needed in order to pass."

Today, having achieved her Bachelor of Business Administration degree, Miss Tucker is a staunch supporter of the Bermuda College.

"People always say the College is a waste of time, but you have to want to get something out of it. Most people don't get anything out of it because they don't allow themselves to get something out of it. When I was there doing my Associate's degree, I wasn't as focussed as I should have been, so it took me four years to complete a two-year syllabus. That made me more determined to push on, stay focussed, and complete the required distance learning courses in the expected period."

Like other employers, Ernst & Young, where she is a staff accountant, was very supportive of Miss Tucker's goals, and provided her with "a lot of learning tools". Now she is enrolled in a Bermuda College course which will lead to gaining her Chartered Public Accountant (CPA) designation.

"If you get as much as you can with what you have you will have more options of where you can go and what you can do in the future," she says.