UCS mom, daughter graduate high school together at same ceremony

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A Utica Community Schools mom and daughter graduated high school together at the same ceremony this month.

Maria Ramirez López saw her children struggling to finish their education and she decided to join in with them on the journey by returning to school for her own high school diploma.

While living in Texas, Ramirez López had left school at a young age to help her mother provide for and raise her siblings.

The challenge worked and Ramirez López graduated this year with her daughter, Ashley Rivera, at the same Utica Community Schools commencement ceremony at the O’rena at Oakland University June 8.

Ramirez López graduated from the UCS Adult Education program and Rivera graduated from the Utica Alternative Learning Center.

Both plan to continue their educations. Rivera will be attending Macomb Community College to pursue a career in the medical field. Ramirez López plans to pursue a culinary arts degree through MCC.

Ramirez López said that she decided to go back to school because she has her daughter and son, and then four more little ones behind them.

“And the reason is I would see my two older ones look like they were giving up on school, and I needed to motivate them to not give up. I sat one day and talked to my husband that I had heard about this adult education program right there on 17 Mile and Dodge Park. I said I am going to get information,” she said.

She said she thought it was one of the only ways that she could make sure that her kids were not going to drop out of school.

“I want them to finish high school and not to give up like I did. I had to give up for my mom, and I don’t want the same story to repeat. I called and got information, and I enrolled myself,” she said.

She said at first she was really scared.

“What if I do not have the time or I don’t make it? I have a 2-year-old. I thought, ‘I am going to take a shot. I am going to go as far as I can.’ At first, it was scary for me, but then I met all of the teachers there. They made me feel I was home — like I was in Texas. I pushed myself to keep going,” she said.

She said she made a bet with her two older kids: “Let’s see who graduates first.”

“So it became a competition. It was something that after a while became a lot of fun and it really motivated us. I feel so happy. I feel like I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish but was not able to, because I had to help out my mom. She had to work three or four jobs. And I thought, you know what, my mom had done so much for me that I thought it was time for me to give up my education and start working,” she said.

She said to never give up on your dreams. You just have to motivate yourself and keep pushing.

Rivera said that once her mom enrolled, she was like, “We are both going to get through this together.”

“She was always, ‘You’ve got this. You just need to do all of your work.’ She is my No. 1 supporter,” Rivera said.

Cheryl Wajeeh, UCS director of Community Education, said the staff of Utica Community Schools Adult Education was happy to work with Ramirez López in developing a plan of action to help her reach her goal of attaining her high school diploma.  

“I am proud to have been a part of her success this year and help her achieve her dream. We look forward to seeing all the things Maria can accomplish in the future,” she said.