Mother, daughter share 'difficult journey' as graduates of William Paterson University
NEWARK — Minerva Martínez missed her salon appointment on the eve of one of the most important days of her life.
The single mother of five did not have time to buy a new dress, and she was not feeling well. To top it off, she was saddled with car trouble.
But none of that seemed to matter on Wednesday morning, as Martínez listened to her daughter belt out a flawless rendition of the national anthem for thousands of people at Prudential Center.
It was their graduation from William Paterson University, and they did it together.
"It was a very difficult journey," said Martínez, 51, of Passaic, who received a bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology. "But I believe that God is helping me."
Her daughter, Janais Martínez, a mezzo-soprano who majored in music performance, said she aspires to be an opera singer. She is traveling next month to Trentino, a province in northern Italy, to perform in an adaptation of "The Magic Flute."
"My mother — she's like a super person," said Janais, 22, a 2018 graduate of Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne. "It's very inspiring."
The family pair were among some 1,850 graduates who received bachelor's degrees at the university's 199th commencement exercise — the first held at an off-campus venue in three years.
Speakers at the ceremony marveled at the diversity of the Class of 2022, which was represented by 57 countries. And more than 800 graduates were the first in their families to go to college.
Richard Helldobler, president of the Wayne university, went off-script at the ceremony to congratulate Janais and her mother immediately after the national anthem.
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"A mother of five children graduating college," he proclaimed to the crowd. "That's some serious 'Will Power.' "
In his speech to graduates, Helldobler later said: "Try things out, knowing that you can draw meaningful experience from what doesn't work, as well as from what does. Make 'yes' your default response to new opportunities."
That exclamation — "Will Power" — has come to be recognized as the William Paterson rallying cry for students who demonstrate perseverance.
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Martínez, who emigrated from the Dominican Republic in November 1992, said she has tried to instill that value in her children, who range in age from 15 to 24. "I teach them that if you put in your effort, and you do your part, the rest is just going to happen," she said on Tuesday.
Martínez and her daughter enrolled at William Paterson through the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund, which provides financial aid to those from "economically disadvantaged" backgrounds.
And they hold part-time jobs to pay for the family's living expenses. Martínez is a substitute teacher in the Passaic school district, and Janais is a food preparer at Chipotle Mexican Grill in Paramus.
Because money is tight, Martínez said, the family spends it only on "priorities" — and chief among them is education.
Martínez said it took her years to learn English by attending classes at Passaic County Community College in Paterson, or reading newspapers and watching reruns of "All in the Family" on TV.
Now she has traded in Archie Bunker for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and other famous composers her daughter told her about.
"We shared our college experience," Martínez said, proudly.
Janais, who never had a private voice lesson until college, said her mother has helped her to grow as a performer by teaching her the meaning of self-confidence.
"I had to make a decision for myself that if I wanted to be a singer, I had to get into the right mindset," Janais said. "You have to put yourself out there, and not care, and really go for your dream."
That is exactly what she did, making a bold move that even surprised herself, she said.
She skipped graduate school to turn pro.
"From a very young age, I knew my mother was someone special and super strong," Janais said. "I wouldn't have such a strong mentality if it wasn't for her guidance. It's honestly like an honor to even be her daughter."
Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: devencentis@northjersey.com
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Passaic NJ mother, daughter graduate together from William Paterson
