Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2023
Asya Fields and her mother Shirley Taylor graduate together with PharmD degree.
A mother-daughter duo is creating another special bond as they graduate together at the Texas Southern University’s Spring Commencement with Doctor of Pharmacy degrees. Still, they can now boast being the first- and second-generation college graduates respectively in their family paving the way for other members to imagine big and strive toward realizing their own dreams.
Houstonians Shirley Taylor, mother, and Asya Fields, daughter, are walking together during the ceremony on Saturday, May 13 to receive their degrees to show their unyielding love and support for one another. They are triumphantly accomplishing the feat after completing four years of what they both confirm was a rigorous journey through the professional program.
“It is so rare to see two generations in the same family achieve such a milestone together and complete their educational journey at the same time,” said Dr. Rashid Mosavin, dean and professor in the Joan M. Lafleur College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. “The TSU family is so proud of both Shirley and Asya.”
Fields, 27, began the program prior to her mother as an undergraduate but convinced Taylor, 49, to join her upon acceptance into the pharmacy program. Both had completed the required pre-requisites, and Taylor ventured to take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test on a whim and passed.
“I will always tell people that we were in this together. We laughed together, we studied together, and we cried together,” said Taylor. “Now I know this was one of those experiences that you don’t truly understand until you’re in it. In school, sometimes people struggle to find someone who relates to their situation, so for that person to be my daughter was extremely helpful.”
During their studies, Fields maintained a job as a pharmacy tech to hone her knowledge and skills with a national retail corporation while Taylor continued to enjoy a long career as a sales representative for libations and spirits. Now both will go on separate career paths following graduation. Fields has already accepted offer to advance to a pharmacy position with the chain. Taylor, on the other hand, plans to transfer her professional acumen in business into pharmaceutical sales. The mother and daughter are both excited that they are together as they face the next chapter of their careers and continue to pursue their dreams.
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