This week marks the end of college life for many students who are graduating from their respective schools .
One mother and daughter at Chipola College will share that special occasion together when they walk away with their college degrees tonight.
This opportunity was almost not possible because of a complicated pregnancy.

Thursday was a busy day for Chipola College staff and students as they prepared for the graduation ceremony.
Rows of chairs lined the room inside the Milton H Johnson Health Center.

Approximately 200 students will be walking down the aisle this evening to receive their college degrees.
Many of them, like Cassie Mitchell, are moving on to pursue a bachelor's degrees at Florida State University.

"It's always been a dream of mine to go to Florida State and I'm really excited about that. Getting to go to all the football games and basketball games and things like that," she says.

But one dream she wasn't expecting was sharing her graduation ceremony with her mom.
The two realized just a few weeks ago they would finish at the same time.

"She even asked me just a week ago if it wasn't going to be embarrassing to me!"

This will be Joyce's second degree from the college after completing their Cosmetology program back in 1971.
The two Mitchells have become extremely close through the years and are proud of each other's accomplishments.

"She has really been a go-getter. She's done so much more than I ever dreamed of doing myself."
"I was very proud of her that she had taken the ambition to go and get her degree while working a full time job."

But that relationship was almost not possible for both of them.
"I almost lost Cassie when I was carrying her. I had to go to bed, I had to quit work and go to bed for almost nine months."

Joyce and her husband regard Cassie as their miracle baby.
And now both mother and daughter will get to experience another unique memory as they graduate with honors side-by-side.

Cassie's brother also graduated from Chipola and her dad took courses there too.
The graduation ceremony begins on Thursday night at 7pm.