'Happy coincidence' as five members of one family graduate
It was a special day for Lawanda Flennoy. For 25 years, she worked full-time to raise her three daughters, so finally
earning an associate degree this month was especially sweet.
But the best part is that her children are graduating from school too -- all
at the same time.Her daughter Jade says this is a "happy coincidence," but
Lawanda says "not so much for me -- it's expensive for me."
Amari just graduated cum laude from the University of Illinois at Chicago and
is heading off to a job with Ford.
Paris just graduated from Chicago State and has a job with Apple.
Jade is graduating from high school and preparing to attend Illinois State.
And four-year-old granddaughter, Brooklyn, is about to graduate from
pre-kindergarten.
If you're keeping score: That's three generations -- five family members -- all
graduating in 2017.
"I set expectations and they met 'em," Lawanda says. Was she a tough mother?
"To say the least -- absolutely," Amari says, to laughter.
Lawanda says it was "overwhelming" to be on stage with her diploma. Paris says it was "really exciting" to see their mother up there, because
"this is something that we've been working towards for so long, but to actually
see her doing it, you know, the focus be on her was something that was really,
really exciting."
And Lawanda Flennoy isn't stopping. She plans to get her bachelor's degree in
psychology as soon as she can.
She says she "absolutely, absolutely" sets high goals for herself, as well as
her children: "I have to set an example," she says. And that she has.
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