The mom of three will graduate — with honors — on Saturday along with her family watching. Her daughter graduated from Odessa College with honors Friday night time, something she might be in attendance for, as well.

Perry might be one among 600 graduates walking the degree at 10 a.M. on May eleven on the Midland County Horseshoe Arena and Pavilion.

With her diploma, Perry turns into a third-grade teacher at Ross Elementary School within the fall.

Currently, she is an inclusion aide at Ross and has subbed there and at many faculties throughout Ector County Independent School District.

“I’m grateful. I’m thankful. I’m excited. I’m nervous — each adjective. That’s how I’m feeling,” she stated of her feelings about commencement.

Her daughter became born prematurely and had extreme bronchial asthma, so she couldn’t paintings full time. Her husband died while her daughter turned 2 months old. Her son becomes three, and her oldest son was 10. Perry said she selected to stay at domestic to elevate her children.

Perry began subbing at her daughter’s college, so when her daughter changed into unwell, she became able to live home with her.

“If she got the common cold, it might change into pneumonia. She never simply was given sick. It might constantly visit the worst,” Perry said.

When her daughter was in standard faculty, Perry decided to get her associate diploma from Odessa College. She earned it in 2008 simply as her oldest son became getting into OC.

Her children at the moment are grown, and he or she has one grandchild, who is three months antique.

“My son and daughter-in-regulation graduated from right here. My son works in the oilfield. My daughter-in-law is a third-grade trainer. My youngest son attends right here (UTPB). He’s studying to be a teacher, as well,” Perry said. “Then my daughter is graduating from OC the next day night (May 10) with honors. She wants to be an attorney and then with any luck a choose.”

Tom Perry, being a teacher is like being a mom.

“I love being a mom, so when I began subbing, I loved to study. I had a teacher, she said, ‘You’re always analyzing. Did you ever reflect onconsideration on being a instructor?’ I became like no; I’m OK subbing,” Perry said.

As her daughter was given older, her bronchial asthma wasn’t as awful, and the trainer requested Perry if she might recollect becoming a teacher.

Perry’s notion approximately it. When her daughter graduated from Permian High School years ago, she determined to get her bachelor’s diploma. But she asked her family first. When they gave their blessing, she went for it.

“… I enrolled, and I’m on the dean’s, and I’ll be graduating with honors,” Perry said.

Originally from Greenville, Miss., Perry has four sisters. She got here out here to visit one in every one of them and met her husband.

“Thirty years later, I’m still right here. When he exceeded, I nonetheless desired to elevate my youngsters here, and so I’ve simply stayed, and I’ve raised them and put them through college and the entirety. I suppose I’m going to stay here. I’m glad right here. I have my home right here; my friends and circle of relatives,” Perry stated.

She said she couldn’t have gotten through UTPB without her professors.

“… They have genuinely been my mentors. I could knock on their door, and it changed into constantly being open for them to speak to me and encourage me as it has been hard. I wanted to end various instances, and they might tell me, ‘No, you could’t cease.’ I would cry, get disillusioned, have panic attacks, and so on., but I stayed with it because I inform my kids, ‘We can’t cease whilst we start something. We have to finish it,’” she said.

Then she needed to practice that to herself.

“I suppose schooling is the entirety. I think irrespective of wherein you start, schooling will take you where you want to head,” Perry said.

Ross Elementary Principal Rebecca Phillips stated Perry is a proposal for everyone at the campus.

“She has worked complete time and attended college full time, so she ought to graduate this semester with a teaching degree. Her purpose is to begin teaching in August 2019. She works in a spread of grade degrees, assisting college students with gaining knowledge of disabilities. She has built excellent relationships with a number of the most difficult students. She enjoys mastering from our veteran instructors and is willing to examine and lend a assisting hand whilst vital,” Phillips said in an e-mail.

“What I respect about Mrs. Perry is that she can ask questions as opposed to simply going with the go with the flow, her honesty and being bendy while necessary. Next yr, the scholars in her magnificence will be the luckiest kids on the town!” Phillips introduced.