A first-generation Harvard grad brought his immigrant parents to tears of pride when he surprised them by singing at his graduation.
Parents Jaime and Patricia Valenzuela, who moved from Mexico to Texas before raising a family, had no idea about surprise their son Bryant, 22, had planned for them as a thank you for their unwavering support.
When Jaime, 51, and Patricia, 55, moved to the U.S., they were based in a small, aqua green trailer for the majority of two of their sons’ lives before building a home on the same plot as the trailer, in Ague Dulce Colonia, just outside El Paso.
This is where Bryant was raised—and having grown up in a home without a sewer system, sidewalks, streetlights, or guaranteed hot water, the 22-year-old said he was shaped by such experiences.
Bryant was driven to apply to attend Harvard, for which he received early acceptance and a financial aid package to cover his attendance.
It was his parents, he said, who propelled him through his studies, adding that “it is through their hard work, words of affirmation, and a genuine belief in my success that I have had the privilege to obtain a college degree.”
And so, when it came to his graduation weekend, Bryant, a keen singer, was selected to perform in a church on campus.
He wanted the celebrations to be more about how his parents had made it, and so he opted not to tell them, keeping his performance a surprise.
While he sat on stage with the other performers, Bryant received texts from Jaime and Patricia, asking why he was there, but he chose to ignore them.
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Then, he headed up to perform a solo version of “Para ti Papa,” a song that is an homage to parenthood, telling the story of a son who is speaking to his father about his importance in the son’s life.
One line about a father saying he felt proud of his son because he achieved his dreams stood out to Bryant, and as Jamie and Patricia watched on, Bryant’s dad could be seen wiping away tears of pride.
The video was later shared on social media, where views said Jamie’s reaction had really moved them.
Bryant said: “I felt a sense of intense gratitude and hope.
“This was the second time my parents had visited me in college – the first being when I first moved into Harvard in my freshman year – and it filled me with immense gratitude to be able to share my graduation with them.
“Their tears made me want to cry as well, because I just truly never imagined this is where life would lead me – at a Harvard graduation, singing to my parents who only dreamed of their children obtaining a college degree.
“The response to the video has been overwhelmingly positive, from friends, family, and individuals on social media.”
