It’s Never Too Late: Georgia Southern graduate rewrites her family’s story at 49
For Laura Santiago, Georgia Southern University’s 2025 Fall Commencement, marks the completion of a journey she began 30 years ago. The 49-year-old married mother of two began her college education straight out of high school but early motherhood changed her course and prompted her to put her studies on hold.
“I love school, but I didn’t want to take away from my kids,” Santiago said. “Once I had them, I didn’t want to miss their after-school activities. I just didn’t want to take time away from them. I felt like I had my chance.”
Santiago was born in Puerto Rico, the middle of six children. Her family moved to New York when she was 4 years old and returned to Puerto Rico when she was 12. Her parents never finished high school, but she did – and now, by earning a bachelor’s degree in World Languages and Cultures with a concentration in Spanish, Santiago is rewriting her family’s story.
“I’m the only one in my mother’s household to graduate from high school and earn a college degree,” she said.” At this age, I feel it would have been easier to do it when I was younger, but my family is really proud of me.”
Santiago never let go of her academic goals and she returned to school once her own daughter entered college.
“As soon as my daughter graduated high school and went to college, I thought, ‘yes, I’m going to college too,’” she recalled. She earned an associate degree then paused again. After several more years passed, she realized, “The years are going to continue passing me by whether I do it or not. I might as well finish so I can be in the position that I want to be.”
In the summer of 2023, she enrolled at Georgia Southern as a first-generation, fully online student in the College of Arts and Humanities.
“I’ve grown so much, while I’ve been here,” she said. “I feel empowered. I’m more confident in my knowledge and abilities. The professors are so knowledgeable and passionate about their subject areas, and they were so supportive. I’m going to remember them. I’m going to take them with me.”
Santiago, who lives in Woodstock, Georgia, works full-timefull time as a middle school instructional support paraprofessional. Her goal is to become a Spanish/ESOL teacher.
“Working with special needs kids is the most rewarding thing,” said the future alumna. “Seeing a child who believes — along with their parents — that they’re limited or incapable, then watching them accomplish milestones they never thought possible is incredibly rewarding.”
While attending Georgia Southern, Santiago excelled in her studies despite her full-time job and full course load. She earned her place on the President’s List and received an “A” in all but one course. It required discipline, sacrificing time with family and friends, careful scheduling and the ability to solve problems independently as an online student. She also credits her supportive husband who took on laundry, cooking and other household responsibilities.
Closing in on the finishing line, Santiago expressed how her college experience expanded her sense of what she can achieve.
“It’s helped me realize that I can do more than I think that I’m capable of,” she said. “I can still learn — there’s so much that I don’t know. When you’re not going to college, you live in a little bubble and just what’s around you. A world languages and cultures major opens your eyes to what’s happening around the world. I appreciate learning about other cultures. It’s been very enriching to understand and see things from different perspectives.”
Now, her decades-old journey will culminate with a well-deserved walk across the commencement stage at Georgia Southern.
“I already have my cap and gown,” Santiago said. “I was debating it, but my family said, ‘You’ve worked so hard — you deserve to go and walk.’ So, I said, ‘okay, let’s do it.’”