A Mother's Day education

For Mildred Jeffries, this weekend marked one of the best Mother's Days of her life.

On Saturday, Jeffries received her master's degree in education and applied technology from the University of Texas Brownsville and Texas Southmost College. She had her daughters Annie and Rebecca by her side to root her on.

"It's probably the greatest gift she can give herself," said Rebecca, 28, who is also a UTB-TSC graduate.

Over the past few years Rebecca and Mildred have supported one another as they've earned their degrees, working long hours and taking care of Rebecca's two-year-old son, Samuel.

Many days, Rebecca worked herself to the bone, teaching from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and work in a restaurant from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

After Rebecca finished her bachelor's, Mildred decided to go back for her Master's.

"Rebecca said to me, ‘Mom, if you can do it, I can do it,'" Mildred said. "There's nobody in the world who can tell you a master's is easy, but she can do it."

Rebecca plans to go back to school this September, and eventually hopes to become a professor at UTB-TSC.

"I want to be someone who inspires other people to do something with their own lives," Rebecca said. "I don't want to just be someone who stays at one level - I want to keep moving up."

To Rebecca, completing her master's will represent personal achievement and new job opportunities, but it will also be a tribute to her mother, whom she admires for her drive and ambition.

"I want her to see that I'm following in her footsteps," she said. "I want to be the same kind of example for my son - strong, independent, with clear priorities."