Produced for the University of Maine’s Division of Lifelong Learning, this fictional short film was developed as part of the Finish Strong campaign—an initiative designed to inspire adults, whether they had some college experience or none at all, to enroll in UMaine Online and complete their degree.
In 2024, DLL partnered with Story Stroll to create a 30-second commercial for broadcast and social media. Rather than lead with program features or convenience, we centered the story on something universally human: the desire to finish what we start.
The film follows a mother who left college to raise her family. Years later, she discovers her old running shoes tucked inside a University of Maine box. She tries them on. They still fit. What begins as a tentative jog becomes a visual metaphor for returning to school. At first, she’s winded. Out of rhythm. Unsure. But with persistence, she finds her stride—building toward the ultimate finish line: completing her undergraduate degree.
The spot aired regionally on television and across social platforms, reaching adult learners throughout the region and reinforcing UMaine Online’s message of resilience, possibility, and second chances.
