“For as long as I can remember, my mom and I did everything together,” said Aisha J. Nash, an eighth-grade science teacher at Carver Middle School in Hinds County.
“We cooked together, cleaned together, shopped together, took trips together and even played pranks on my dad and brother together.”
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]isha is especially proud of the fact that she and her mother will graduate from Jackson State University this weekend, together. Aisha earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biology in the fall of 2012 from the College of Science, Engineering and Technology at JSU and will receive her Master of Arts in teaching degree on Friday, April 22 from the College of Education and Human Development. She will be applauded by her mother, Jackie A. Nash, who has continually supported her educational efforts.
“My mother always took her children’s education seriously, although she felt as if she had not completed her own. She sat at the table every night after work, practice, games and performances with me as we completed homework from the age of 5 all the way until I was out of high school,” Aisha said.
Jackie, who will earn her Bachelor of Business Administration in management degree on Saturday, April 23, from the College of Business at JSU, received the same kind of support from her own mother.
[dropcap]J[/dropcap]ackie said, “My determination to earn my degree was because of the promise I made to my mother. My family is a strong believer in higher education. After deciding to leave JSU in 1977 and pursue a career, I broke the news to my mother with a promise that I would ‘go back to school’.” She wasn’t happy at all, but because of the promise to ‘go back to school,’ she supported my decision, Jackie added. “Each time I would enter school again, she would praise me for keeping my word that I would ‘go back to school.’ We even had our private joke about my ‘going back to school.’ I would tell her that, “I told you I was going back, but I didn’t say when.” According to Jackie, the joke later became “I told you I was going back, but I didn’t say I was going to finish.”
Jackie continued, “It has been a long, but enjoyable journey for me. My first semester at JSU was summer 1976 after graduating from high school. Fall 1976, I started my career with South Central Bell, which later became Bellsouth, then AT&T. Taking advantage of the company’s tuition reimbursement plan, I entered JSU again fall 1989-summer 1990. After retiring from a 30-year career, I joined the JSU family as a secretary in the Latasha Norman Counseling Center. With the employee benefit of remission of fees, I was able to continue my education.”
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]isha said, “For a time now, we have been in school together. We’ve done homework together, studied together and even took some tests together! I am so-o-o-o very proud to say that our hard work has paid off and we will graduate from Jackson State University together!” “Although both of our graduations are almost 24-hours apart, that’s close enough,” Aisha said, and then added, “I’m so very proud of my mommy, ‘The honors graduate!’” Jackie is not only a stellar student, but an outstanding employee of the university. On Tuesday, April 19, she received the ONE JSU Excellence Award for Professionalism from the Office of Student Affairs, Division of Academic and Student Affairs.
Aisha said, “As an educator, I believe our story is one of motivation, dedication and promise. We hope our story will help to stimulate and motivate other mother-daughter relationships to be each other’s biggest supporter.”
“My mother passed in October of last year and will not see me receive my degree,” Jackie said wistfully. She knew I would graduate this year and I know in my heart she celebrates this day with me.”
Graduation from JSU a Nash family tradition
“Spring 2016 Commencement is very special for me and my family. It is special because not only will my daughter, Aisha, receive her Master of Arts in teaching while I receive my Bachelor of Business Administration in management, but after graduation I can say that my son and daughter will both have received their bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Jackson State University,” Jackie said.
[dropcap]J[/dropcap]ackie added, “My five sisters and I will all have received our bachelor’s degrees from JSU as well.”
“Throughout my career and educational endeavors, family and friends have always supported and encouraged me to pursue my degree. My husband was always there to carry on home activities during my night classes,” Jackie said.
I was often encouraged by some to take the fast version to receive my degree by attending institutions that offered programs for non-traditional students. My determination was to receive a degree from JSU. Today, I can proudly say, “I am a graduate of JSU!”