18 years in the making: Mother and son to graduate together
KENT, Wash. -- Graduation is a special time of year for families. It’s full of endings and new beginnings. For the Harris family in the southern suburbs of Seattle, they have two unique members of the Class of 2016. They’re mother and son.
"To me, this is kind of full circle," says Enjoli Harris-Carter.
Back in 1997, when she was a
Enjoli on her 18th birthday, 6 months pregnant.
senior in high school in nearby Renton, she found out she was pregnant with Elijah. It was the last straw in what she describes as a hard times in her life. She was a high school senior nearing graduation, but ended up dropping out.
"Whenever I'm asked about my biggest regret in life, I say hands down, I always say it was dropping out of high school."
Instead, the school of life taught her plenty. Elijah was born in October. He had some serious bought with asthma that put him in the hospital. She had a second child, survived a violent marriage and had to find a way to make it on her own with two kids to take care of. She made ends meet and found a great guy and ended up having two more kids.
When Elijah made it to high school, he inspired her to go back to get her high school degree. But,
Young Elijah in one of his many hospital visits
she was reluctant to go back. Not because of herself, but because of Elijah.
"I'm so proud of him and I'm blown by what he's accomplished that I didn't want to take that away from him. I wanted him to have his moment to shine."
But, Elijah saw it differently. He was him mom always taught him to try his hardest and give 100%. He struggled with traditional high school. Bottoming out his sophomore year with a 1.9 GPA. His junior and senior years he was part home schooled, part classroom taught through the Running Start program at Renton Technical College. His schooling has turned completely around, last term receiving a GPA of 3.62. He'll get his high school diploma with honors later this month. Elijah had no problem with sharing the spotlight, he wanted his mom to go for it.
"I always find it cool that my mom is grabbing this opportunity," says the 17-year-old. "Always doing the best she can with it."
Enjoli finished the last six credits she needed to graduate through mostly online classes,
while juggling everything else in her busy life.
"And kind like the way my mom is proud of me," Elijah says, "I'm also proud of her."
And now graduation time is two weeks away and both will get their high school diplomas from RTC.
"I am so so happy," says Enjoli, "accomplishing this is amazing."
Enjoli's last class was a required course on Washington state history and in graduating with her son, it's possible that now they're making history.
"I don't know," she laughs about the idea.
Elijah chimes in that he'd like to be the first. Enjoli nods, "that'd be exciting if we were."
The two graduate on June 23, and they'll both be speaking at the graduation ceremony, sharing the student spot during commencement. Among the loudest in the crowd of more than 6,000 at the ShoWare Arena will likely be husband and stepdad, Damon Carter. He wrote Q13 News to write about how proud he was of his graduates-to-be.
After graduation, Enjoli wants to continue her schooling and study psychology. Elijah is enrolling at Green River College and is interested in computers, specifically network administration and security. He thinks he'll go on to get his masters.
Right now, though, they're planning a dual graduation party and getting their speeches ready for graduation. Enjoli says she hopes other people hear about their story and find inspiration.
"Nothing has to stop them," the 37-year-old says, "no obstacle, no struggle, no trial has to hold you back."