Debbie Tyson will have an early Motherβs Day celebration this week: Both she and one of her daughters will graduate from ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ on the same day. Tyson will pick up her psychology degree during the 9 a.m. Friday commencement ceremony at CFE Arena, and then watch daughter Raina Sims accept her elementary education degree during the 2:30 p.m. ceremony. Both are graduating with honors.
For Tyson, a degree was something she always wanted to attain, but for the stay-at-home mother going back to school didnβt always seem to fit into the plans she had for her family. Then in 2008, her family relocated to Florida and her dreams of obtaining a degree soon became a reality.
Tyson returned to the classroom after 30 years, initially enrolling as a business major at Seminole State College in Sanford. It wasnβt until she took an entry-level psychology class that she discovered a love for psychology and switched her major.
Sims also soon began studying at Seminole State.
βI showed her the ropes, how to get into the honor society, to select classes and professors because I had already taken those classes and professors,β Tyson said. The two spent much of their time at school together, even enrolling in one of the same classes.
Sims said: βWe sat together, did homework together, and ate lunch together. I would bring my friends over to the house for lunch, and mom would make soup.β
After graduating from Seminole State, Tyson went on to ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ through , where she studied psychology. Once again, Sims followed in her momβs footsteps.
βI believe it has been a sense of competition for her to excel, and maintain her GPA,β said Tyson. βIt makes me feel like I have showed my children that you can excel.β
To see more information about ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½βs commencement ceremonies click here.
Another daughter, Kirsten Sims, will graduate from Lake Mary High School at the end of this month.
After commencement, Tyson plans to continue higher education courses.
βGoing to college, studying under well-known professors, and reading material for classes directed my education in many different ways,β said Tyson. βIt opened up doors and helped me to realize different potential in myself.β
As for Sims, she hopes to land a job with the Seminole County Public School district.