20-year employee earns degree

By Misty Jones
The TC News Reporter

Texarkana College will have an extra special reason to celebrate this Spring 2016 graduation. TC employee of 20 years, Eileen Walker and her daughter, Briana Gowans will be graduating together.
Walker, age 52, is a custodian in the Humanities building at Texarkana College and has been working towards her degree since 1981.
Facing obstacles such as paying for college on her own, working full time, sickness, death of loved ones, and even a fear of Algebra didn’t stop her.
Walker recalls thinking, “I’m going to go ahead and cry and get through whatever math class I have to get through.”
She started out in the Career Education Center (CEC), where she earned a one year certificate for Office Education. And thanks in part to TC offering tuition assistance to employees, she is graduating with her associate degree in Office Careers.
“I want to encourage other people to take advantage of what the college is doing for its employees and encouraging young people because knowledge is power. I tell my granddaughter that all the time,” said Walker.
With only 3 and half years until retirement, Walker plans to pursue her dream of working in an office after she retires.
Eileen Walker will not be graduating alone. Her graduation will be even more special, as she is graduating with her daughter, Briana Gowans.
“She (Briana) would always, when I was doing accounting and stuff, and I needed somebody to go behind me, she would come over and be my other set of eyes,” said Walker.
Gowans, 35 year old, mother of two, will be graduating with an associate degree in General Studies. From there, she plans to attend Texas A&M Texarkana to earn her bachelor degree in General Studies and pursue a career in the pharmaceutical field.
“I want to show them, hey Mama did it. You can too,” said Gowans.
Gowans has also faced obstacles in pursuit of her dreams.
She delivered both her 17 year old daughter and her 7 year old son prematurely.
“I want to be able to show my daughter that even though I had you at 17 doesn’t mean you can’t go and finish college too,” said Gowans.
Gowans has also been on dialysis for the past 5 years and on the kidney transplant list for the past 4 years.
“I want to be an example for my children. Just to show them that just because you have things that happen or you’re faced with a lot of stuff, like being a teen mom, and stuff like that, doesn’t mean you can’t finish,” said Gowans.
Every student should have the privilege of meeting this inspirational mother/daughter duo. They are a reminder that with education and family support, you can do anything.