This holiday season brings joy and cheer to all, but especially to A&M Central Texas students getting ready to walk the stage at graduation this week.
Students packed Founder's Hall on Tuesday as they picked up caps and gowns ahead of Friday's graduation ceremony.
It's a day Selina Perez never thought would come until she transferred to A&M Central Texas.
Like all students at the upper-division University, Perez transferred in from a different college to complete her education and earn her Bachelor's in Business Administration.
"I also have another job, so it's really beneficial to work with my school schedule and my work schedule back and forth," Perez said.
Her success comes as no surprise to her fellow classmate and former 3rd grade tutor Mary Bourdon, who said she always knew that Perez was capable of going far.
"I would tutor elementary students in reading and math and back in the 3rd grade, Selina was one of my students I tutored," Bourdon said.
Always wanting to become an elementary school teacher, Bourdon decided to go back to school after her husband was killed in Iraq in 2004 serving his country.
"I decided to go back to college and I went back part time so I could raise our children and take care of our elderly mother and pursue my dream," Bourdon said.
Dreams that will come true for both Perez and Bourdon on Friday when they walk the stage together at graduation.
"It's always been a dream of mine to be a school teacher and it's finally coming true," Bourdon said.
The A&M Central Texas graduation ceremony is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. in the Expo Center.
