MANCHESTER – Priscilla Vega, 41, and her daughter, Tiffany Garcia, 22, traveled to New Hampshire recently to cross the commencement stage and celebrate the special milestone they earned together.
Vega dropped out of high school to work and start a family, later earning her GED. In 2020, she enrolled online at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) with aspirations of launching her own consulting business.
As a single mom and grandmother who also serves as caretaker to her elderly mother, Vega shared there were times she wasn’t sure she’d complete her program. “The motivation to set an example for my girls fueled my perseverance. I celebrated small victories – like passing a tough assignment and completing one course at a time.”
Inspired by her mom’s journey, Garcia decided to transfer to SNHU after trying community college and found the flexibility of online learning to be a perfect fit with her busy life and full-time job.
“I am from New York City and I earned my BS degree in business administration,” Vega said.
“I earned my associates degree in business administration.” Garcia said, “I am excited to get my degree and do this with my mom, not many people can say they graduated with their mom.”
Vega explained, “it has been such a journey to get here and I know this is just the ceremonial part of this event but it means so much to be able to be here, to walk the stage and to do this with my daughter Tiffany is something I never thought I would ever do in life.”
“One of the things that inspired me to get here was when my youngest daughter was doing a school project in high school and she said mom what school did you graduate from and I froze in my tracks. I told her, I didn’t graduate school and her mouth dropped to the floor. She said what? She said you have always told us we had to go to school,” Vega said.
Tiffany Garcia of Manchester Township carries her graduation gown while wearing her cap for her graduation at Southern New Hampshire University. She joined her mother Priscilla Vega who also graduated that day. (Photo courtesy Southern New Hampshire University)
“One of the rules in our house was it was either school (college) or the military, you pick one and I felt a little hypocritical in wanting that expectation and setting a poor example so I felt that I had to go back to school and get a degree. I had to show them as that was better to say it,” she said.
“I think my mom getting a degree at this point in her life is very inspiring. I can say because if I didn’t want to get my degree now, I know my mom could do it having raised two grown daughters and getting a house and having a grandchild – all these different family things going on and having a full-time job and being a full-time student – it is inspiring to know that if she can do it, I can do it,” Garcia said.
Garcia said on the day of her commencement that she knows “if I put my mind to it and I work really hard, I will get my degree and I am getting one of my many degrees today.”
There have been a lot of ups and downs on her journey, Garcia shared. She had almost given up before deciding to transfer. She was a full time student on top of working a full time job. “I think if you don’t put hard work in you won’t reach it. I feel hard work definitely pays off.”
“While it might not be conventional. It is definitely possible and I understand that it is never too late, seeing all age groups at commencement from those coming straight out of high school to those celebrating their 90th birthday is something that is truly admirable. It is never too late to follow your dreams, to chase your dreams and to get that degree,” Vega said.
Priscilla Vega of New York City prepares for the big walk on her recent commencement where she was joined by her daughter Tiffany Garcia of Manchester Township who also graduated that day. (Photo courtesy Southern New Hampshire University)
Her daughter teared up at this point in the interview which was recorded by the university’s Media Relations Office of External Affairs and Communications at Southern New Hampshire University.
“Tiffany, I am so proud of you for doing this for being here to get your degree and for overcoming adversity. You graduated high school and you had big dreams and goals to go away to college and this didn’t work out and you got a little discouraged and you said I’m quitting school but I told you to stick it out. I knew it would be worth it,” Vega reminded her daughter. “The day you came into the living room and said, ‘mom I want to transfer to your school. I want to do what you are doing,’ that to me was like the greatest gift you could have ever given to me. I worked hard to get here and all I want to do is for you guys to see it.”
Ironically, SNHU is located on North River Road, Manchester Township, New Hampshire.
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