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Priscilla Vega '24 said she was inspired by her children to earn her degree. After a lot of hard work, she said, she did it, earning a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration from Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ (SNHU).

Vega said she was motivated to enroll in SNHU when her youngest daughter, while working on a school project, came to her with a question. Her daughter asked where Vega had graduated from.

“I froze in my tracks,” said Vega, who then explained to her daughter that she had not graduated from college.

In their household, Vega said she had always encouraged her children to enroll in either college or the military. After this conversation with her daughter, she said she felt a little hypocritical in having that expectation for her children but not setting forth an example herself.

“So I was like, I got to go to school,” she said. “I have to get a degree. I have to do it for them.”

Vega's path to obtaining a BS was quite a journey, she said, and filled with challenges. But after traveling from New York City to Commencement in 2024, she said it meant so much to be able to walk the stage and receive her degree.

And she did not walk alone. Her other daughter, Tiffany Garcia '24, also graduated from SNHU with an Associate of Science (AS) in Business Administration and walked at Commencement.

All of Vega’s hard work, she said, was so her children could see her success and follow her example. Vega said her daughter joining her at SNHU was the greatest gift she could have been given and she encouraged her along the way. “You got to just stick (it) out,” she told Garcia. “I promise you it’s going to be worth it.”

While Vega said not all paths to an education are conventional, she realized it’s always possible and never too late.

“Seeing all age groups at Commencement from, you know, those coming straight out of high school to those who are celebrating their 90th birthday is something that is truly admirable,” said Vega. “It’s never too late to... chase your dreams, to get that degree.”

With her BS completed, Vega hopes to also earn a master's and PhD. She and her daughter said they may be able to attend Commencement together again, to receive their next degrees.

“It means so much to be able to be here, to be able to walk the stage, and to be able to do it with my daughter, Tiffany,” said Vega. “(It’s) something that I never thought I would do, ever, in life.”

Abigayle Mahnken ’22 is an assistant content writer at Õ¬ÄÐƵµÀ (SNHU), where she earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English and is currently earning a Master of Arts (MA) in English and Creative Writing. Passionate about storytelling and education, she enjoys learning from fellow students' experiences and sharing their stories. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, reading, and learning. She also really likes video games. Connect with her on .