Key Takeaways
- The University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) alumna Amina Aziz earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2026.
- She graduated alongside her eldest daughter, Aleuah, whom she had at age 15.
- As a mother, first-time homeowner, and member of a large family, Amina was already balancing a full life when she decided to pursue her degree.
- She chose psychology, intending to make a difference for military veterans and their families, whom she now serves in Alabama.
- Amina views education as a “skeleton key” that can unlock any door.
- Her story is a testament to determination, resilience, and the unexpected support that can help us reach our goals.
UAGC Alumna Amina Aziz Graduates Alongside Daughter and Turns Education into a Family Legacy
Amina Aziz spent decades imagining what it would feel like to earn a college degree. When she finally crossed the commencement stage in Spring 2026, it turns out it well exceeded her expectations.
Amina, who graduated from the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, was joined by her first-born daughter, Aleuah, who was there to recognize the completion of her child development degree.
It was especially meaningful because Amina had her when she was just 15 years old.
“To see both of us accomplish something that would change our lives and make life better for us is unreal,” Amina says.
The two women’s smiles stretched from ear to ear as they heard their names called back-to-back over the speakers, received their degrees, and reunited on the commencement floor. Even with the crowd cheering around them,
“It felt like it was just us in that stadium,” she adds.
The ceremony marked the culmination of two very different journeys that had been intertwined from the beginning. As a teenage mother, Amina’s formative years were shaped by raising a family, working, and doing what she could to build a life for her children. Now, years later, she and Aleuah were standing together as graduates.
“I’ll tell anybody, to my younger self, I could say, ‘Don’t stop, keep going,’” Amina shares. “Don’t give in to stereotypes. Don’t give in to stigma. Don’t give in to any barriers that would make you feel less than. Know that you deserve nothing but the best.”
The Education She Put Aside
Amina's relationship with education was tested at an early age. As a teenager raising a child, she worked two jobs, eventually dropping out of high school.
“I really put education on the back burner so I could be there for my children and provide for them,” Amina says. “It was a hard decision at the time, but I was making so many of them during those years.”
“I’ll tell anybody, to my younger self, I could say, ‘Don’t stop, keep going,’” Amina shares. “Don’t give in to stereotypes. Don’t give in to stigma. Don’t give in to any barriers that would make you feel less than. Know that you deserve nothing but the best.”
Life continued. Her family grew. Amina became a mother of seven and eventually a grandmother to eight. She later earned her GED and worked her way through different entry-level jobs, building transferable skills and learning wherever she could. Still, Amina wanted more for herself.
“I always placed education at the forefront for my children and demanded excellence from them,” Amina says. “So, I had come to realize I had to do the same for myself.”
Finally, after years of putting it off, Amina reached out to UAGC. After several lengthy conversations with an admission specialist, Amina enrolled. She continued building her professional experience, including a paid internship with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Mission Support in Durham, North Carolina. As she progressed through her studies, another opportunity emerged.
Fox Army Health Center at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama reached out to Amina about a position in psychology. She interviewed, impressed the team, and was offered the job. She moved her family to Huntsville and began working at the health center in April 2025. Just one month later, she graduated from UAGC.
Amina had gone from years of building a career through experience and on-the-job learning to earning a degree in the field she was now working in and stepping into a social services assistant position before she had even walked across the commencement stage. Her determination shines throughout.
“I have a passion and desire to change the world,” Amina says. “I put myself in a position to help those who are in need.”
Making Room for Education
When Amina started at UAGC, she did not have the luxury of clearing her schedule and starting fresh. She had responsibilities that could not be paused for an assignment. So, she found ways to make school fit into the life she already had.
On a typical Tuesday night during one of her college courses, her dining room became her classroom.
spring 2026 commencement ceremony
Kids ran up and down the stairs. The television played in the background. Aleuah studied alongside her mom, moving through the kitchen with a book in one hand and a spatula in the other. At the table, Amina sat with headphones on, her laptop open and notes scattered around her as she listened to course material.
Crowded and noisy, it was not the traditional picture of a college study session. But it worked.
The flexibility to approach her coursework in different ways helped Amina keep moving forward, but so did something less tangible: knowing there were people she could turn to when she needed support.
One instructor in particular stayed with Amina long after their course ended. The professor wrote letters of recommendation for her and remained available whenever Amina reached out.
“Anytime I reached out for help, she was there,” Amina says.
Amina was thrilled to be surrounded by instructors who wanted to see her succeed.
“To some professors, you’re just a person in the classroom,” she explains. “But I can really say that my experience with UAGC — everyone was so personable with me. Anytime I reached out and asked questions, they were so responsive … I just ran into so many amazing people at UAGC.”
The Door They Opened Together
Perhaps the most meaningful door Amina opened through education was one she did not walk through alone.
Amina was still learning about the world and her place in it when she became a mother. She and Aleuah, in many ways, grew up together. So, when Amina decided to return to school and earn her degree, Aleuah was the first person she told.
For Aleuah, the decision to pursue her own degree came with its own sense of purpose. As a Referral Specialist at Elevance Health and with a background in child development and health care administration, she was already building a career centered on helping others — a value she shares with her mother.
The duo supported each other throughout their respective programs, whatever that support looked like along the way. Then, in spring 2026, they arrived at the same commencement ceremony as graduates.
“It is one of the best things that I can say I’ve ever done with my mom,” Aleuah says. “I’m extremely proud of her.”
The experience also left Aleuah looking ahead.
“I do model after her, and I’m hoping to do this again with her one day.”
Education, Amina says, is a “skeleton key.” A key can open a door for the person holding it. But once the door is open, other people can walk through, too.
What We Unlock for Others
Soon after graduating, Amina enrolled at another university to pursue a master’s degree. She continues to pursue opportunities in her field and is working on a memoir. Throughout, she sings praises for her alma mater.
“UAGC is definitely the school you want to go to,” Amina says. “It will change the trajectory of your entire life.”
Amina especially wants to encourage adults who may feel intimidated by returning to school. She knows what it is like to enter an unfamiliar environment later in life, to learn new technology, and to balance education with everything else competing for your attention.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are, how young you are, because I’ve met so many people like me who are older in life,” Amina explains. “They’re in that second half of life, but they have so many things they want to do, and they’re so intimidated by the technology and the online platform. I’d tell them, ask for help. Keep learning. Keep moving forward.
“Because you’ll never know what an education can do for you, for others, if you don’t try.”
Forging A New Path
Amina wants other people to see themselves in her story because she knows how easy it can be to convince yourself that you’re not capable of more.
She knows better now.
“There's no such thing as a perfect moment, but you can maximize each moment to its fullest potential, just by not wasting a moment and just saying, ‘You know what, I'm gonna go for it.’ Because it's not win or lose; it's only lessons that help you become better,” she says.
If you are someone who, like Amina, wants to forge a new path for your future, consider exploring the flexible online degree programs at UAGC, and talk to an advisor today.
