Teresa Lyles, a resilient woman from the United States, achieved a lifelong dream at the age of 68.
Her journey to this achievement spanned four years of hard work and dedication, culminating in a momentous occasion when she proudly stood on the stage alongside her granddaughter during the graduation ceremony at the University College of Tennessee.
This remarkable duo, Teresa at 68 and her granddaughter Zuri at 22, both earned their degrees — Teresa in Sociology and Zuri in Health Administration.
Teresa reflected on her earlier connection with the university, stating, “I attended this university when I was younger but left in 1970 because I needed to help support my family.”
Their academic pursuits were not without challenges, as tragedy struck the family during their time at the university with the untimely passing of Zuri’s mother, Teresa’s middle daughter.
Zuri remembered the difficult times, sharing, “She was about to drop out of school, and my grandmother was depressed. But we supported each other.”
Teresa, expressing her determination, said, “I wanted to finish college, but I never had the chance. I didn’t even think I could. I’m glad I was able to do it alongside my granddaughter. We supported each other. It was tough, but we had to move forward.”
Looking ahead, Zuri has plans to pursue postgraduate studies, and Teresa, while continuing to offer unwavering support to her granddaughter, is enthusiastic about the prospect of furthering her own education.
The significance of this achievement is underscored by the fact that, despite the University of Tennessee’s century-long history, this marks the first instance of a grandmother and granddaughter simultaneously obtaining degrees, symbolizing a truly unique and inspiring academic accomplishment.