She worked over 15 years, semester by semester. Last week, Stephanie Pierson, 48, a native of Media, received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, writes Susan Snyder for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

What made it all the sweeter was receiving her degree from Penn the same time as her daughter Arielle, 28, even if it was in a virtual commencement.

They both graduated with highest honors.

It was a circuitous journey to Penn for both.

After high school, Stephanie went to Wilson College in Chambersburg, then Lehigh University. She became pregnant with Arielle and dropped out.

Stephanie cleaned houses, moved to Mexico, taught English there and in Texas. She moved to New Jersey after losing her job in 2007, but started taking one or two classes at Penn each year.

She became a Latin American and Latino studies major.  She’s now pursuing a master’s degree.

Arielle dropped out of high school, earned an associate’s degree at Camden County College before making it to the University of Pennsylvania.

“We have never done anything conventionally, so this graduation, of course, is going to be unconventional,” said Arielle, an anthropology major living now in South Philadelphia.

Read more about this mother, daughter graduation here.

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