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PLAINVIEW, TX — When Ayesha Siddiqui walks across the stage during commencement exercises at 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Baptist University, she will walk away with more than a diploma.

She will carry memories of long weekends on the road, late-night study sessions, quiet moments comforting a newborn between classes, and the love of a university community that welcomed not only a student, but an entire young family.

Ayesha, 28, is scheduled to receive a Master of Science in Business Analytics degree during 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ’s 2 p.m. commencement ceremony Saturday, May 16, in Hutcherson Center, in Plainview. Standing nearby will be her husband, Abdul Mujeeb Mohiuddin, their 18-month-old son Isa, and Ayesha’s parents, who are traveling from India to celebrate the milestone.

The moment is especially meaningful because much of Ayesha’s graduate journey happened online and associated residency weekends at 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ’s San Antonio campus, making the Plainview ceremony an opportunity to finally experience commencement at the university’s flagship location.

“My journey with 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ began in June 2025 as a transfer student at the Wichita Falls branch,” Ayesha explained.

After beginning her studies in Wichita Falls, Ayesha decided to continue her education through 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ’s international student program based in San Antonio. There, she found herself surrounded by students from many cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.

“Being immersed in such a diverse cohort allowed me to engage with peers from South Asia and across the globe,” she said. “This environment did more than just provide an education; it broadened my worldview and offered a profound perspective on the resilience and evolution of international students making a life in the United States.”

But while Ayesha was building her future, her family was growing too.

She missed her very first residency weekend after giving birth to Isa just seven days earlier. Returning to graduate school only a few months later with a newborn brought uncertainty.

“Returning to school when he was only a few months old brought a fair amount of anxiety, as he was entirely dependent on me,” she said. “However, the team in San Antonio went above and beyond to ensure my success as both a student and a mother.”

Instead of feeling like a burden, Isa became part of the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ family. Faculty and staff provided access to a private student lounge where the family could care for Isa during residency weekends. Professors welcomed him into classrooms when needed. Fellow students eagerly gathered around him during breaks.

“That level of kindness and accommodation made a potentially stressful situation feel comfortable and supported for my entire family,” Ayesha said.

Over time, Isa became a familiar face around campus.

“It has been a joy to see Isa thrive in this environment; he has truly become the program’s ‘social butterfly,’” Ayesha said.

She still remembers bringing him into the classroom for the first time.

“The room was filled with warmth as everyone gathered around to meet him,” she said.

Kayla Davis, Assistant Director of International Programs, said the family quickly became a special part of the campus community.

“We have watched their family grow from a married couple, to having a little boy, Isa who we have grown to love and look forward to seeing each session, to another little boy on the way this July,” Davis said.

Isa’s name carries deep meaning for the family. Isa is the Arabic name for Jesus and is highly revered in Muslim communities.

For Ayesha and Abdul, the journey to graduation required sacrifice and determination. Every residency weekend meant packing for a baby, making the drive from the Dallas area to San Antonio, coordinating work schedules, and balancing family responsibilities with graduate-level coursework.

“The greatest challenge, however, was the mental juggle,” Ayesha said. “Balancing the responsibilities of being a mother, managing a household, and maintaining my career while simultaneously meeting high-stakes academic deadlines and final exams required a level of discipline I didn’t know I possessed.”

Now, as graduation approaches and the family prepares to welcome another son in July, Ayesha looks back on the experience with gratitude.

“If there is one thing I want people to know about my 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ experience, it’s that I didn’t reach this finish line alone,” she said. “Having my husband and Isa by my side throughout this journey changed the entire nature of my education. It wasn’t just ‘Mom going to school’; it was a family mission.”

For Ayesha, the story of earning a graduate degree will always be inseparable from the people who walked the journey with her.

“To my husband, who supported me through every late-night study session and long drive, and to the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ faculty, who made space for my son in the classroom—thank you,” she said. “You didn’t just help me earn a Master’s degree; you helped me show my children that with the right support and a ‘Pioneer’ spirit, you can achieve your dreams without leaving your family behind.”

Then she adds one final thought that captures the heart of the journey.

“This degree belongs to all three of us.”