A first-generation college graduate celebrated with her proud parents by emotionally placing her cap and gown on them.
Tiffany Ferreira, 22, graduated from Fordham University in New York and, after her ceremony on May 21, placed her cap on her mom and wrapped her father in her gown.
The gesture was to honor her parents and the sacrifices they made immigrating from Brazil for their family to live a new life in the U.S.
Tiffany is the first college grad in her family, but watching on was her little sister Lauren – who sees Tiffany as an inspiration and couldn’t fight back her emotion as she aims to follow in her footsteps.
Tiffany said: “As I’m walking towards my family and friends who are cheering and congratulating me, I thought it was the perfect moment to congratulate my parents.
“I told them it was not only my degree but ‘our degree’ and thanked them for the support and love they always gave me.
“While we were hugging, my parents told me they were so proud of me, they loved me, and it was all God, I accomplished this all because of God.
“After everyone stopped crying and getting so emotional, we all laughed at how much my sister cried – they were joking that she will cry even more at my wedding at the end of this year.”