Mother and daughter duo Cherie and Braidey Sturgeon share a lot together but they never dreamt they would graduate from high school together.
But, last Thursday, that's exactly what they did wearing matching caps and gowns. They were among 30 graduates accepting their Dogwood diploma at Inlet Theatre in Port Moody out of this year's crop of 237 graduates from School District 43's continuing education department.
"It's amazing. It's so cool," said Braidey, 19, who finished up her Biology 12 course this winter at the same time her mom was completed Family Studies 12.
The two often worked side-by-side at the kitchen table. "It's a fun experience telling your mom to do her homework," joked Braidey.
Cherie admitted it was a little tough sometimes to complete the course requirements for the learn-at-our-own pace family studies course. "Sometimes I needed a little push," she acknowledged.
But the mother and daughter team also gave a lot of credit to staff at Coquitlam Learning Opportunity Centre for providing them with advice and flexible programing to meet their education needs.
FINAL COURSE
Cherie just needed the final course to finish graduating, something she put off for several years, while daughter, Braidey, didn't like the structure and the schedule of the high schools she attended, preferring to take night school courses.
"What I liked about continuing education is they greeted me like I'm an adult who just needs to do high school courses," Braidey explained, adding that she didn't feel she fit into regular high school. "It isn't for everybody," she acknowledged.
School has always been important to the family and Cherie admits that graduation was something she always intended to do. Now she's considering working towards a degree in psychology. "Now this is something for me," she says of more education and a career in psychology. "Something I will enjoy doing for the next 25 years.
Braidey plans to travel and then consider other education possibilities.
The family was joined by friends and grandmother Irene Bonenfant who teared up when she said how proud she was of her daughter and granddaughter. The family planned to celebrate with champagne or possibly dinner out after receiving their official papers.
"I can't even describe it," Cherie said. "I never imagined I would be graduating high school together (with my daughter) but I am so thrilled."
