Mother-Daughter Legacies

Large universities and colleges are known for having several generations pass through their doors.  Here, at College of Notre Dame, there is a special bond that exists between mothers and daughters that attend this institution.  This is created by the sense of community that we see every day on campus.  The school may be smaller than a lot of universities and colleges, but it brings a larger sense of community to every person who steps foot on this campus.  I discovered two specific examples, in our own campus community.

On a personal level I have experienced and understand this sense of community and this special bond that exists between a mother and daughter that attend this college.  In my case, it strengthened an already close relationship.  My mother attended the weekend college here and received a business degree.  The last nine months that she attended the college, she was pregnant with me.  She had me one day after she was supposed to graduate on stage.   After many long hours of studying, test taking and hard work, the miracle of having a child overshadowed all of that.   Three years ago, when I was looking into different colleges, she suggested that I research College of Notre Dame of Maryland.  During my investigation I found that this college was everything I was looking for, small classes, small campus, and a sense of community.  I started here in August of 2008 and since then I have fallen in love with this school.  My mom came with me to my first day of orientation and I realized how comfortable both of us felt, like it was our second home.  It is everything she always told me it was and I even have one of the same professors she had in 1990.  Although she cannot be an active alum because of her busy schedule, she is an active member of this community through me.  This bond is irreplaceable and it is an honor to attend a school that places such an emphasis on community and family.

 

I also talked to another individual about the bond of the mother-daughter legacy at this college.  Michelle Campbell, who is on the Alumnae Association Executive Board and graduated in 2001, shared how her mother attended College of Notre Dame as well and graduated in 2002.  Her mother was a student in the Weekend College program and the Masters program again in 2009.  I asked her why both her and her mother both decided to attend College of Notre Dame.  Among the several reasons Michelle cited she noted, “…there was something about the campus. Every time I came to visit there was something about it that made me picture myself going to school there.”  A more practical reason for coming here was they offered a nursing program which was Michelle’s original area of interest.  Eventually, when she changed her mind about what she wanted to study, the faculty support helped her make those necessary decisions and changes.  Her mom is a nurse and it was a job requirement to go back to school to get her BSN.  When she was looking at RN to BSN programs she had fellow colleagues who went through the nursing program at this college.  Michelle said the most important factor “…was mom saw how much I enjoyed CND and what they had offered me. She liked the support they offered to adult working students and how they made completing her degree very attainable.”  She enjoyed her time here so much; she decided to come back for her MSN even though she did not need it for work.  Michelle said… “I was so proud of my mom when she graduated with her MSN in May.”    Her and her mom had always been close, but going to this college at the same time only added another layer to their relationship.  They were able to experience similar things.  Michelle said “How many daughters can say that they took classes with their mom?”   

 

The bond that exists between a mother and daughter is already a very special one.  The College of Notre Dame of Maryland is a very unique college in the sense of community it brings and for many of the mother/daughter pairings who attend here, it has only strengthened those bonds.  There is something special about seeing my mom’s face light up when I have discussions with her.  I can see it all coming back to her, as if she is reliving the experience all over again.