Beating the odds
A Mother-Daughter Journey to Graduation
When Kathryn Shaffer walks the stage to receive her Master of Science in Educational Management from the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) this May, her daughter, Olivia Baker, won't be far behind. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education with Core Subjects EC–6, Olivia will follow her mother across the same commencement stage—a shared moment built on decades of sacrifice, strength, and family support.
"I always wanted to go back to school," Kathryn said. "I was a teen mom. I dropped out of high school, and life took me in a different direction for a while. When I turned 30, I knew it was time. I enrolled in college, determined to finally pursue the degree I’d always wanted. Along the way, I received the Robert Noyce scholarship, which helped me stay focused and keep going. In 2016, I graduated with my bachelor’s and started teaching.”
She began teaching soon after and eventually decided to return to UHCL to pursue her master's degree and principal certification. "I wanted to lead a school. I wanted to make a bigger impact on kids who might be on a path like I was," Kathryn said. "One reason I wanted to go back to school so badly was just to beat the odds. The probability was not in our favor to be successful."
Olivia's journey into higher education took a different shape than her mother's—but she was no less determined. She began at San Jacinto College in a teaching cohort, gaining early hands-on experience before transferring to UHCL. The decision to stay close to home—and close to her mom—felt like a natural next step.
"UHCL was the closest school, and I never really wanted to go far,” Olivia said. “I knew they had a strong education program—and it ended up being an outstanding experience.”
While their programs and timelines did not always overlap, the shared journey made all the difference.
My mom has always been our biggest supporter. She's had to be every figure in our lives—mom, dad, everything. Being able to be her cheerleader through her experience and for her to be mine through mine—it's been amazing.
"She'd call me with questions, and I'd try to remember," Kathryn laughed. "Things have changed since I graduated, but I could still give advice. She's just good support—she's my little cheerleader."
Graduating together is more than symbolic—it's transformational.
"I'm so proud that all my children graduated high school,” Kathryn said. "Olivia is the first grandchild to graduate college and all three of my sons are currently in college.
"I don't know the statistics, but not many people get to graduate with their parents," Olivia said. "Watching my mom get her master's shows me anything is possible. She's my superhero."
With commencement just around the corner, both Kathryn and Olivia are beginning to look beyond the stage toward what comes next. Olivia is currently interning with a local school district and hopes to start teaching close to home. But she sees her future expanding beyond the classroom.
"I want to help students know that their situation in life doesn't define them," she said. "I see myself as a peer leader, a principal—maybe even opening my own school. That's why I want to get my master's."
Kathryn, too, has her sights set on what’s next. “I’m going to take a year off and continue to pursue my education—maybe superintendent courses, or even a doctoral degree in education,” she said. “I just want to keep growing.”
If she does return, she’ll look no further than UHCL. “The professors, the registrar’s office, the students—everyone’s been so helpful,” she said. “Even in my master’s, I had a professor, Dr. Deckman, who kept a class open even though I was the only student. He moved it online so I wouldn’t have to drive an hour to campus. That kind of support really meant something.”
Olivia echoed her mother’s experience. “I had an early morning class, and the professor was always understanding of my drive,” she said. “She made sure I had what I needed. That kind of support made UHCL feel like the right place.”
For Kathryn and Olivia, graduation is more than a ceremony, it's a celebration of how far they've come and a signal of where they're going.
"We're breaking cycles," Kathryn said. "We're doing what we weren't expected to do."
And this May, they'll walk across the stage not just as graduates but as living proof that beating the odds is possible.