Michelle Story is one of 2.6 million moms across America that have a degree in meeting tough challenges, going to college while inspiring her kids every week on what it takes to thrive.
This month, Story, 37, will be one of many graduates at UCI, gaining a bachelor’s in psychology, and will be headed later this summer to Pepperdine University for a master’s in clinical counseling.
It’s been a long road for Story to get there.
Like many moms, she takes her kids along for the ride, in this case, a commute from Central Valley – one that is showing them what life can offer.
In between movies and phone scrolling on the ride to OC, thoughts and dreams are on the children’s minds.
“One day, I want to get into UCLA. If I ever get in there, I would be proud of myself. If I don’t, there are other colleges to attend,” said Nicolas Story, 16, honor roll high school student and looking to start his higher education journey at a community college.
“All that matters is that you have tried and did your best, forget your worries, and try hard; that is being successful; my mom has taught me to follow my life dream.”
“I want to go to college and be smart, and be like my mama,” shared Violet Novelo, 9.
For more than 2 million mother-students, pursuing an education is a ticket out of poverty.
Story sees it as her point of liberation.
“The lack of education in my family..we have experienced generations of poverty,” said Story who held a job at 15.
At 19, she had her first child.
At 37, she has four children, two of whom are on the autism spectrum, while balancing motherhood and her children’s needs.
She is the first in her family to graduate from a community college, but it was met with academic struggle.
Then Story enrolled in a vocational training school to obtain work as a medical assistant and went back to college to receive her AA to teach at the very vocational school she attended.
Then, Story had a loss.
She had a stillborn at 8 months.
“I couldn’t save her,” shared Story.
This was a turning point, where Story decided she wanted to understand grief.
She wanted to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Through her psychology degree and each class, Story knows she is also reconciling and understanding her past.
“I want to specialize in grief counseling for more women to talk about miscarriage, and that’s why I chose clinical counseling, to try and help bring more awareness so other women know that there’s time to grieve.”
Being the Mom Student
Even though Story knew she needed to continue her education to survive, Story struggled with the thought of time apart from her children for the next couple of years while she studied at UC Irvine.
“I don’t think I can make the sacrifice I’m gonna make. And I don’t know if I can be away from you, and be somebody without you,” shared Story.
“My kids were like, you have to go, you have to do it. This is your dream; you’ve earned it. It felt like they were my parents in that moment, the ones that I didn’t have.”
But even with support from her children and a co-parenting lifestyle, it is still a balancing act for Story.
“My stuff gets put on pause; my school work doesn’t start until their eyes shut at 9:30 or 10 p.m.” says Story.
“As soon as their heads hit the pillow that’s when I become the student Michelle. I will be up until two sometimes, just to wake up at 6:30 am. and do school drop off at four different schools all across town.”
This week, Story was just announced to be among one of the graduating seniors on the 2024 Chancellor Awards of Distinction, presented to those with exceptional academic achievement.
“She does this to show her kids anything is possible,” said Blake Stone, her scholarship advisor from the UCI Alumni Association, and someone Story says mentored her to where she is now.
“I am so proud of my mom,” says Rileigh Story, 13, “She has sacrificed a lot.”
