On a Friday afternoon back in May, hundreds of people stood shoulder to shoulder in a PAC stadium in Washington, D.C.

They were watching blue-robed students cross the stage to receive their diplomas from Howard University.

Nicky Massey scanned the room looking for her youngest daughter.

I think it be her.

I think it is her.

Because it was such a big class,

they're just calling out these names in rapid succession.

And so my phone is going because I was like,

I am not going to miss this moment.

When Nicky's daughter finally crossed the stage she triumphantly held up her degree.

Sorry every day baby. We were going nuts my yeah My brother was really going nuts. It's like he's just like yelling at the top of his lungs. That's really sweet. Everybody's so proud.

So I now have two kids through college. I'm so thankful. Wow. That's

amazing. Congratulations. Thank you so much. I'm giddy and proud and proud of myself and proud of them.

Now we're this little family of college educated women and it wasn't easy for any of us,

not a single one of us. The last time I talked

with Nicki was back in 2020. You might remember her story from our second season.

She's a listener, a single mom with two daughters.

And at the time, she wrote to us about the sacrifices

she was making to help pay for her children's college.

Nicky had struggled to pay for college herself

and eventually dropped out.

It took her more than a decade for her to get her

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