It’s a story of perseverance - a local woman defying all odds, graduating from college despite many traumatic moments, including losing both of her parents.
Her name is Ericka MaGee. She just graduated from Central Michigan University.
While that may not seem like anything special, you’ll certainly realize how special this young woman is after hearing about who she lost, before starting high school and before finishing college.
On paper, MaGee’s life may look ordinary. She’s 22, just graduated college with a bachelor’s in social work. But she says her life leading up to graduation day was anything but.
MaGee lost her father last year and her mother passed away when she was only 12-years-old.
Since her mom died of cancer, MaGee says her father became the best example of a man she has ever met.
She says her father helped her get through college on his deathbed, making sure she got what she needed to graduate only days from his last.
“He even told me when he was passing away that he was sorry he wasn’t going to make it to my graduation,” she says.
MaGee has had many reasons to quit, but she didn’t. She kept going. However she says there were definitely times she wanted to quit.
“I’ve had times where I cried and did not want to get up in the morning,” she says.
Magee says she did find reasons to keep going. Although just a memory, those reasons were her late mother and father.
For anyone out there pursuing a goal or a dream, MaGee says do what has to be done, but whatever you do don’t give up.
“My advice is that it’s not going to be easy,” she says. “Just keep pushing through.”
In order to help keep stay focused, MaGee said her father taught her to, always thinking about what’s next.
Well what’s next for her? She’s getting her master’s degree in social work. Classes begin at the end of this month.
