AMERICA | Mother and daughter graduate from the same university on the same day, sets record.
A mother and daughter from New York graduated together with associate degrees from Onondaga Community College (OCC) in Syracuse.
Barbara Wiggins, 58, and her 36-year-old daughter, Tanisha Wiggins, both earned their Associate of Science degrees in Human Services during the same ceremony.
Barbara’s academic journey began after earning her GED, motivated by her desire to help others and prove to herself that it was never too late to pursue education.
“It was about just helping people and getting more educated,” said Barbara, a mother of five and grandmother of 12, who has worked as a doula. “I didn’t finish high school, so I had to go back to school to get my GED. And I loved it,” she told GMA.
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Barbara enrolled at OCC in 2021, initially feeling out of place as a nontraditional student. However, her professors and classmates soon made her feel at home. “At first, I was hesitant,” she recalled.
“There was a kid in my class who was 18, and I said, ‘I have a grandson that’s 18.’ We all just started laughing, and that helped me feel comfortable,” she added.
Barbara credits her professor for fostering a welcoming environment. “She encouraged us to interact with one another, which made the experience so much easier,” Barbara explained.
Despite the challenges, Barbara remained dedicated, attending classes consistently, no matter the weather. Her determination paid off when she crossed the stage alongside her daughter.
For Tanisha, the road to graduation was equally challenging. She initially enrolled at OCC at 18 but struggled with depression, leading to frequent hospitalizations and interrupted studies.
“I wasn’t ready at all. Every other month, I was in the hospital. That prevented me from finishing school,” Tanisha shared. Years later, after having two children, now ages 2 and 1, Tanisha decided to return to school to create a better future for her family.
Tanisha credits OCC’s Return to Complete program and on-site daycare for making it possible to balance her studies with parenting.
Both Barbara and Tanisha hope their story inspires others to pursue their education, no matter their circumstances.
“I didn’t give up because I wanted my grandchildren to know that if I could do it, they could too. Don’t think a bout it, just do it. You’ll face struggles, but you’ll overcome them,” Barbara said.
“My mom proved everyone wrong that thought she wouldn’t be able to do it. She really got through it at the age she is now with tutoring and everything, and she went every single day. She did not stop. It didn’t matter what the weather was, she went. And I’m really proud of her,” Tanisha added.
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