For Barbara Herndon it's been a long and bumpy road to her Bachelors Degree in Information Studies. But 19 years later, after being side-tracked by life, kids and jobs, the diploma is now a reality.
"It feels great, it's been a long time coming," said Herndon, "It's starting to get a little overwhelming."
Thursday night, University College, the home for SU's part-time and summer students, hosted a ceremony to celebrate the soon-to-be college graduates. The program helped put Herndon on the path toward a college education, while she was busy balancing a full time job, a household and her family with 4 kids. "They made a lot of sacrifices," she said.
This weekend about 100 University College students will be part of the Commencement Ceremony in the Carrier Dome to accept their diplomas. They are graduating from 9 different SU schools, with 36 different majors. And each student has their own success story.
Dean of University College Bea Gonzalez says their determination is an inspiration. "Our students come to us, young in life, late in life, struggling in life but all with the same goal of earning a degree," she said.
When study sessions turned into long nights for Herndon, she credits her support system, including her Mom. "She started out as a young mom and she really proved to us that she could persevere," said Herndon's Mom Barbara. "I'm really proud of her. She did it all."
The 37-year-old mother already has her sights set on accomplishing more, Herndon starts working on her masters degree at the end of May. She says it's all part of the lesson she wants to teach her kids. "I hope they realize that I stuck with it, and the lesson is not to give up," she said.
"I love my Mommy. She really did a good job and I'm so proud of her," said her 8-year-old daughter Nailah.
And she's setting the example, like her fellow graduates, that an education is always within reach no matter how long it takes to get there.
