When Stephanie Letki was a sophomore in high school and her sister, Alexandra, was a junior, their mother, Elaine, decided to take a college-level class. Elaine was a stay-at home mom from Milford, Pa. with a love of history. \u201cI just wanted to take one class, just to see if I liked it,\u201d she said. She had always heard great things about East Stroudsburg University, so she decided that is where she would take the class. A few teachers at her daughters\u2019 school, Delaware Valley High School, were ESU graduates. \u201cIf people like Mr. Valentine and Mr. Bates were products of ESU, I knew I wanted to be too,\u201d she said of the high school teachers.<\/p>\n
Alexandra graduated from high school in 2012, and Stephanie in 2013. They both took classes at Sussex County Community College in New Jersey before joining their mother as ESU students. By this time all three were enrolled as full-time students and had a great car pool. Elaine continued to follow her passion as a history major, and her youngest daughter followed in her footsteps. \u201cHistory is the only thing I ever felt I was really good at,\u201d Stephanie said. Alexandra took a slightly different route as an English major in the creative writing track. \u201cI like to write, but I do like history too,\u201d Alexandra said. \u201cHistory is filled with stories!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first time my mom and I were enrolled in the same class she offered to change her schedule. She didn\u2019t want to take away from my college experience,\u201d Stephanie said. \u201cBut I insisted she didn\u2019t. It didn\u2019t bother me to be in class with my mom. At first, I was nervous I\u2019d only be known as Elaine\u2019s daughter,\u201d she said. \u201cBut, that wasn\u2019t the case at all. Once I knew I can be my own person, I liked having classes with her.\u201d In fact, they all really liked having classes together. Over the course of their undergraduate careers the mother and daughters took several classes together.<\/p>\n
Last year, as they were planning their schedules for the 2016-17 school year Elaine and Alexandra were looking ahead to their senior year. Stephanie, despite being a year younger, realized she was only a few credits behind her family. \u201cI took classes over winter break and I am taking a heavy course load this semester. It\u2019s a lot, but I did it,\u201d Stephanie said. The three Letki women will graduate together on Saturday, May 6.<\/p>\n
A few extra classes wasn\u2019t the only roadblock standing in the way of this family celebration. Elaine had some health problems that came to a head over winter break. \u201cThere is a history of heart disease in my family,\u201d Elaine said. \u201cI have heart palpitations sometimes, but they were becoming more frequent and I passed out.\u201d She went to the doctor and was told she needed immediate heart surgery. She told the doctor the semester begins in a week, so maybe it\u2019s not the best time. \u201cI remember he looked at me sort of funny. He said, \u2018I just told you that you can die,\u2019\u201d Elaine recalled. Her daughters encouraged her to take some time off to take care of herself. But Elaine was determined to graduate with her girls. After the surgery, when she started the spring 2017 semester she was still weak. \u201cWe became the parents,\u201d Alexandra said. \u201cWe carried her books for her and made sure one of us was always with her.\u201d<\/p>\n
After spending all day together on campus, the three go home and spend their nights together doing homework and studying. \u201cDad sometimes just disappears when he sees all the books and papers laid out. He knows to give us space to get our work done,\u201d Alexandra said. \u201cHe really is so excited for us, though,\u201d Stephanie added. So are their grandparents, Elaine\u2019s parents. \u201cI can only imagine how sick my parents\u2019 friends are of hearing about us. They are just as excited as we are,\u201d Elaine said.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not unusual for parents to cry as they watch their child graduate, and Elaine is no different. \u201cI am sure I am going to cry my eyes out. I am so proud of them,\u201d she said. That emotion is reciprocated. \u201cWe are so proud of our mother,\u201d Alexandrea said. \u201cIt\u2019s not easy going back to school as an adult. She did it, and she excelled.\u201d All three excelled, and they will each graduate with honors. \u201cTo share this journey with my daughters,\u201d Elaine reflected, \u201cIt really is a gift.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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