Courtesy: Southern College
HBCU commencement season at Southern College and A&M Faculty is all the time crammed with pleasure and celebration, however for Angela Jones and Jordyn Jones, this yr’s ceremonies carried a deeper that means. The mother-daughter duo walked throughout the stage simply at some point aside — marking a strong, emotional milestone that represented years of perseverance, sacrifice and unwavering assist.
“It wasn’t nearly strolling throughout the stage,” Jordyn mentioned. “It was about strolling in function — collectively.”
The 2 by no means got down to graduate on the identical time. What started as particular person tutorial journeys grew to become a shared expertise crammed with late-night examine periods, mutual encouragement and deep emotional connection.
“Supporting one another via college on the identical time was a blessing,” Jordyn mentioned. “We leaned on one another throughout powerful assignments and moments of doubt. Whether or not it was a phrase of encouragement, a prayer or simply figuring out we weren’t alone, we stored one another going.”
Angela, who earned her undergraduate diploma practically 30 years in the past, returned to highschool with a renewed sense of function.
“I all the time felt there was extra I wished to attain academically,” she mentioned. “I wished to show to myself and to my daughter that it’s by no means too late to pursue larger schooling.”
Watching Jordyn navigate school whereas pursuing her personal diploma was each motivating and transferring for Angela.
“It felt like we have been on a shared journey, every motivating the opposite in methods we by no means anticipated,” she mentioned. “There was pure elation in celebrating one another’s milestones—an indescribable delight.”
The 2 described the second they realized they might graduate collectively as one crammed with laughter, tears and hugs.
Trying again, each Angela and Jordyn mentioned they treasured the recollections they made collectively — from lengthy nights spent learning to moments of mutual encouragement throughout anxious occasions.
“Her willpower impressed me to maintain going, even when issues felt inconceivable,” Jordyn mentioned. “She taught me that with the fitting mindset and religion, you may overcome something.”
For each girls, the second went far past the HBCU levels they earned.
“This milestone means all the pieces for our household,” Angela shared. “It represents generational progress, breaking obstacles and proving that goals could be achieved regardless of the circumstances. Development doesn’t cease at any age. Your objectives are nonetheless legitimate, regardless of how a lot time has handed.”
Jordyn echoed that sentiment.
“I hope individuals see that energy runs deep in household,” she mentioned. “Our story exhibits that with religion, willpower and assist, something is feasible.”
