Power duo: Mother and daughter from Detroit graduate nursing school together

A mother and daughter both graduated from nursing school at the same time in Toledo. Shalisa and Mishay Davis from Detroit graduated together from the Hondros College of Nursing in Toledo this spring, WTOL11 News reported. 

Mom Shalisa worked as a practical nurse for more than two decades before deciding to go back to school because she knew she could do more in nursing. “We found Hondros, and I wanted to go. So she decided that she wanted to go as well. So, we just decided to do it together,” said Shalisa.

Shalisa’s daughter Mishay said her mom inspired her to be with her in class and they both helped each other in the process. “[I would] stay on top of her, like ‘did you study this, did you get your homework done’, versus her yelling at me to get your homework done,” Mishay said.

Shalisa was made to walk across the stage first before her daughter and she was perfectly okay with that. “As a mother when you watch your children graduate from college, you feel kind of complete. You feel as a parent, even though we made mistakes, we did something right,” said Shalisa.

Just a week after celebrating her feat with her daughter, Shalisa’s son Justin also got his college degree. Justin helped take care of the home while she and Mishay went to nursing school, Shalisa said. “The days where we both had to be at school or clinicals, he kept my daughter and granddaughter, so he was an intricate part in the program for us,” said Shalisa. 

Shalisa would now like to open her own clinic to assist communities that do not have adequate access to healthcare while her daughter plans to go back to school to become a family practitioner in the future.

This is not the first time something like this has happened. A few years ago, Theresa Lyles, 68, and her 22-year-old granddaughter Zuri Lyles graduated together from Tennessee State University to the admiration of many. Theresa received a degree in sociology while Zuri earned a bachelor’s degree in health information management and a minor in business.

Recently, 25-year-old Kenadie also wowed the world as she gracefully walked up to receive her master’s degree certificate along with her parents – who also graduated with master’s degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University.

Kenadie was born while her parents were still in college, however, the trio pursued their postgraduate degrees and graduated together, making more special memories, and celebrating their success as they turn over a new chapter of their lives.