MSU-Meridian parents, children graduate alongside each other
MERIDIAN, Miss.—When Melissa Grant first enrolled at Mississippi State University-Meridian in 2011, she attended classes traditionally alongside other students.
More than a decade after deciding to leave the elementary education program, she re-enrolled to complete her degree online, but struggled with virtual learning. However, her son and Bulldog graduate student Tareze Grant encouraged her to continue pursuing her degree.
Melissa, a teaching assistant at Northeast Elementary School for 19 years who lives in Meridian, graduates Wednesday [May 14] with a bachelor’s in elementary education, walking the stage alongside Tareze as he earns his master’s in clinical mental health counseling.
“I initially chose not to go back to college because my oldest son, Christopher, had entered college, and I wanted to focus on him,” she said. “Then in 2014 and 2016, my mother became ill, and I was forced to quit. It was hard for me to work fulltime, go to school fulltime and take care of her.”
Even after putting her collegiate education on hold several times, Melissa enrolled again with the elementary education program in 2022.
“It’s been a hard journey,” said Melissa, who hopes to use her degree to teach at NES where she currently works. “Because I started over with Tareze, he’s been able to help me with some of the technology. There have been times I wanted to give up, and I thank God I had people in my corner to help me.”
Tareze, a recreational therapist with Alliance Health Center, said he’s proud of his mother and happy to graduate with her this month.
“It’s pretty cool to see her go back and finish,” he said. “I know I don’t tell her enough, but I’m super proud of her. When you’re young, you don’t realize the sacrifices a parent makes for you, and as you get older, you start to recognize that. I’m thankful for her.”
Like Tareze, Mya Spears will share her graduation day with her mother, LaMareshia Johnson. Spears will receive her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, while Johnson will be awarded a doctorate in educational policy and organizational design.
“She inspired me to work harder than maybe I would have,” said Spears, who lives in Marion with her mother. “She worked so hard to get her doctorate while teaching classes and having a full-time job.”
Spears, who wants to work in healthcare administration, hopes to follow in her mother’s footsteps by pursuing a doctoral degree. Johnson works in the university’s Division of Education.
David Buys, associate vice provost of health sciences and interim head of campus, said these graduating students underscore MSU-Meridian’s commitment to educational access and meeting students where they are.
“The stories of these parent-child duos graduating together are not only heartwarming, but on a much more practical level, they illustrate that at MSU-Meridian, we are meeting students across the life course with life-changing educational opportunities,” he said. “I am extraordinarily proud of these students as well as our world-class faculty who continually adapt their approaches to meet the changing needs of the workforce.”
To learn more about the MSU-Meridian educational programs, visit www.meridian.msstate.edu.
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