Mother’s Day came early for one Lexington mom who graduated from Midlands Technical College while simultaneously taking classes alongside her high school daughter.

Julianna Virgili and her daughter Lily Virgili both attended Midlands Technical College with Julianna recently graduating May 3 and Lily taking college classes at the community college while enrolled in Lexington County School District 2’s early college program.

Lily is an Airport High School senior, and her mom is a 2001 Airport graduate. Lily was able to take college classes while in high school thanks to a partnership between Lexington 2 and Midlands Technical College. 

Lily was one of 36 students in Lexington 2 to earn either associate’s degrees or certificates through the district’s early college and dual enrollment programs. The senior earned her General College certificate and plans to attend Earlham College in Indiana while continuing to play volleyball and study chemistry and forensics.

Her mom decided to further her education and obtained her Database Analyst certification and her Associate of Science in Administration of Office Technology. It took her three years to complete her associate’s degree and four for her certificate.

“I would like to obtain my CompTIA Data+ certification and continue to rise in my current position as a data integration specialist,” Julianna said. 

She had a couple of reasons for going back to school, and while there were obstacles, she finished. During the Midlands Technical College ceremony at Colonial Life Arena May 3, her daughter participated alongside other Lexington 2 students.

“I decided to go back to school for two reasons – to improve my skill set for work and because I don’t expect my children to rise to expectations that I’m not willing to uphold myself,” said Julianna, who has two kids, including Lily.

Being a single mom and working full-time was never an excuse for Julianna. She said she also had to work around her “volleyball-obsessed” daughter’s schedule.

“I also had to fight through cervical cancer and recover from a knee surgery,” she said.

Her daughter talked about how supportive her mom has always been of her and how taking college classes allowed them to empathize with each other in regards to the stress that comes with taking them.

“I am unbelievably proud of her,” Lily said. “Nowadays, we don't really see parents or even adults going back and continuing their education. I'm so proud of her for breaking this standard.”.

Thanks to the Lexington 2 partnership with Midlands Technical College, Lily has a head start on her college path. She said she has planned her future since middle school.

“I’ve always wanted to travel and not be stuck in a cubicle all day,” Lily said. “This program really helps me turn my dream into a reality.”

Julianna encouraged other parents thinking about going back to school to just do it.

“I had a friend at work who earned her degree at 54 and recommended the schoolAfter speaking with an advisor and realizing I could get the degree mostly funded by scholarships, and realizing the flexibility they offered, there wasn't a reason to not get it done,” she said.