Mom and Daughter Reunite After 18 Years – Celebrating Grad and Life, Together

Graduation day is always an overwhelmingly extraordinary experience. Loved ones beaming with pride. Students spilling over with joy, realizing their dedication and determination has paid off, and humming with anticipation for the next chapter of their lives to begin. The room is alive, the energy is palpable. And it is a day that our team cherishes, as we snap photos and capture video of the excitement and hear the stories of these remarkable graduates. Every story is moving, uplifting. But this past graduation day held within it an experience, an account, that none of our team will soon forget and we simply had to share it with you.

In the hustle of the day, we were asking graduates to pause for just a moment and tell us about what this Anderson College experience has meant for them, what they’re excited about.

Mom and Daughter Reunite After 18 Years – Celebrating Grad and Life, Together

When Jane Lindawan, a medical office administrator graduate, and her mother Amelia began to share, within moments there wasn’t a one of us, within listening distance, with a dry eye.

After 18 years of sacrifice, a relentless dedication to providing her children with a better life, here Amelia was finally standing beside the daughter she’d so dearly missed – celebrating her graduation and the beginnings of the life she’d always hoped, always imagined, her living.

Finally, they were together. There could not have been a more wonderful moment for them, and we were deeply honoured to have them share what brought them to here.

A Mother’s Dedication to a Better Life

Amelia shared with us, “It was a difficult time for me to leave my kids. It was so hard; they were so young, and I was worried that something might happen to them. My youngest son was about ten months old, but as a mother, a dreamer, I closed my eyes and my heart to leave them.

“I worked in Hong Kong, my first place overseas, away from my kids, just to fulfill my dreams, to one day be together and have a good life and future for my kids. I have three children, one boy and two girls, Jane is in the middle. I work there (Hong Kong) for 18 years and whenever I could go home, it was only a week, two weeks at the most. I was not able to be with them, attend their school days, their graduation, elementary, high school and college. So, then it breaks my heart.”

“While I was in Hong Kong, I dreamed to come to Canada. I thought, “Maybe in Canada we will be together.” I came here. I have been in Canada working as a nanny since 2009. The dream dropped as we lost Jane’s father, but still, I did not stop fulfilling my dreams, my hope, to bring my daughters here.”

A Daughter’s Strength Holding onto a Dream

Jane shared her perspective. “It’s been years that I’m away from my mom, like 18 years, because she worked abroad, and I had to stay in the Philippines with my siblings and my dad. Every vacation, she came back to visit, but it was just a short visit. So, it’s not really a long time that we were (ever) together. And from the beginning, I was dreaming of a cool family, you know, like the father and mother together.”

Hope Renewed

When Amelia came to Canada Jane was eight, and she had to make a difficult decision.

“I was able to bring only my youngest and asked Jane to be patient, (told her that) we will do everything for her to come here. Her brothers were already married so I asked Jane if she could go and get some experience in Macao, that is part of China, while we try to find a way for her to come here, then it would be easier. We struggled to find a way for her to be here.

“And then, here comes Anderson, comes the opening of an international student (opportunity). We close our eyes because we don’t have the money, but we help each other. She had a little earning working ten years in Macao, plus my little earnings to be able to pay her expenses back up here. It’s not easy, tuition fees, boarding house and some other expenses that she needs. With God’s help, we were able to apply for that international student visa and finally see each other.

“In October she arrived here, I’m in heaven. I have two girls with me here. Only the brothers were left, but they are in good hands. We will see how it goes, after Jane finishes her studies and we’ll see if we can also bring them. That’s the dream come true.

Thank you for this opportunity. I wasn’t able to be with Jane when she graduated elementary, high school, and college. Thank you. Thank you, Anderson for the opportunity to be with my daughter because I’ve been waiting for this to happen. I can’t thank you enough.”

—————————————–

Jane shared, “We tried a lot of things for me to come here after my mom came here. We tried to find a job or find a way for me to come here so we could be together. And then finally, Anderson College gave me the opportunity to come here and study, to be with my mom, and thank you so much for this school. It is very, very good opportunity for us to be together.

“I finished my first college in the Philippines 2000. Then (my mom) was not able to come. This graduation is the first graduation, she was able to come to. So, thank you, Anderson, for this opportunity, for giving me the time to be with my mom during this graduation.”

Final Words and Wishes

Amelia:
“We will be celebrating this special day today. It’s very emotional for both of us, for our families back home and our friends here. Thank you so much. You give us support when we need it most. We will never forget Anderson for this opportunity that’s a part of our life already, our life’s story, and Anderson will be a part of that very special thing that happens to us together with my daughter.”

Jane:
To all the graduates together with me since yesterday. Congratulations, everyone. And thank you, Anderson College, for giving this opportunity to be with our loved ones and for all the journeys that we’ve been through and then for the next journey that we are going to. And yeah, that’s it. We did it!
—————————————-

Our hearts are full hearing this incredible story. We are so in awe of you Amelia, for your dedication to your family and determination to offer them a beautiful life. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your journey. We are deeply touched and so inspired by your life’s story and thrilled you are finally together and living the dream you have held all these years.

And Jane we’re so thrilled for you and the brilliant future you have ahead, and sharing every step along the way with your precious mother, sister … and one day with your brothers here also.
_____________________________

If you’re reading this and are moved to explore your own dreams, we would be honoured to encourage you on your way as well. If you’re still deciding which of our 30+ programs may be the right fit for you, you can always take our Career Discovery Quiz”. Or book a virtual appointment with one of our Admissions Advisors and we’ll help you navigate every step along the way. Let us help you get started and soon this will be your graduation day and brilliant future we’ll be celebrating!