Tassels Turn for Four Graduates in the Same Family

Graduating is the pinnacle achievement in most young people’s lives. It is the culmination of several years of learning, growing and maturing into someone that is prepared to produce positive results that will serve themselves and society productively. One local family will get to experience the joy and celebrations that graduating brings four times in less than a month as the entire family of four are graduating and moving onto a new  chapter in their lives.

Loletha Turner, a single mother of three will receive her Accounting MBA from Texas Southern University May 16; her daughter, Carletha Smith, just days ago marched across stage to receive the Associates Degree from Lone Star College on May 9; son, Jerrin Turner will graduate from Humble High School May 23; and daughter, Lailah Thompson will graduate from Humble Vista Academy June 4, from kindergarten to first grade.

“It has been a roller coaster experience preparing for four straight weekends of graduation ceremonies,” Turner says of the experience. “I only realized about three weeks ago that we will all be wearing graduation caps and gowns. Everyone has been busy trying to finish these final days of classes, but I think that we are finally getting to a point where we feel like we can breathe and see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Taking a cue from their mother who instilled in them that they must make a commitment to and finish what they start, Carletha is continuing her studies in the hopes of becoming a nurse practitioner and Jerrin, who will graduate in the top 10% of his class, will study engineering.

While this was not planned and sort of just happened, it has been no easy task to get to this point. Loletha and Carletha both work full-time and Jerrin works part time. Every one pitches in and helps with Lailah and sometimes they only see each other in passing. Loletha gives credit for this accomplishment to her Christian faith and the support she receives from her mother and several of her co-workers who hold her up on days when she feels like she can’t go on. Despite dealing with close family medical emergencies over the past few months that could have taken her off track of finishing her master’s program she has fought through it and found a way to deal with the things that came her way.

“It’s tough being a single mother; however, I am living proof that whatever you want to accomplish can be done. I believe that it takes a village to raise children because one person can’t do it all. I want to be that model citizen to give back and help others.”

As for as celebrating everyone’s accomplishments, Loletha plans to have one big party in June to celebrate. “I want to celebrate my kids, not necessarily myself, but them. Because as a parent I feel that is what I should do. Trying to get them into college has taken a lot of energy and once all that is done I will look to plan a celebration.”