About a decade ago, Tiay茅 Wooten, SIS/MA 鈥23, was in the car with his mother headed to middle school. During the half-hour drive, he shared his angst about an upcoming test.
听
A former teacher, Darice Long, SOE/MEd 鈥23, quickly determined her son needed 鈥渁 moment.鈥 听
鈥ㄢ淚 took a detour to a coffee shop and said, 鈥榊ou know what? You can be late to school. Let鈥檚 go have some coffee,鈥欌 she says.听
听
And so began Long and Wooten鈥檚 鈥渕om-and-son coffee chats.鈥 The tradition continued through Wooten鈥檚 high school years and even endured鈥攁lbeit virtually鈥攚hen he headed off to Wake Forest University in North Carolina, where he majored in communication and media studies. 听听
听
Eventually听their caffeine-infused conversations relocated, in-person, to Spring Valley鈥檚 Compass Caf茅. Their coffee dates were a way to connect before they headed off to class at 麻豆果冻传媒, where they both pursued听graduate degrees鈥擫ong in the School of Education鈥檚 education policy and leadership program and Wooten in the School of International Service鈥檚 intercultural and international communication program. Mother and son collected their diplomas on May 12 during AU鈥檚 145th commencement.听
听
鈥淚t was great encouraging each other [as we] went听through the journey,鈥 says Wooten, who held three internships during his time at SIS, including with the US Government Accountability Office and the Department of the Treasury. 鈥淚t definitely felt听like we were in this together.鈥
听
Adding to the camaraderie: Long鈥檚 younger son just wrapped up his freshman year at the University of Kentucky. Long says it听created a uniquely supportive dynamic with three members of the family pursuing higher education at the same time.
听
鈥淲e held听each other accountable, sending each other GIFs about exam time and assignments,鈥 she says with a laugh.听
听
As they moved their tassels from right to left in May, both mother and son are looking forward to their next chapters. Long recently started a new job in Howard University鈥檚 admissions office, and Wooten plans to pursue a career in international relations.
听
But the pair鈥檚 academic achievements have allowed for something just as valuable as a diploma: precious time together over cups of coffee before class.
听
Says Long: 鈥淚t will be another memory together to look back and to say, 鈥榃e did that.鈥 And then to look forward and say, 鈥榃e can do 迟丑补迟.鈥欌赌