When Beverly Mosely-Wicks, 53, receives her diploma on June 14 from DePaul University’s School of Education she will be the first person in her immediate family to graduate from college, even though her four children attended college. Mosely-Wicks expects her four children and seven grandchildren to cheer her "as I actually walk across the stage and get that diploma."

Mosely-Wicks will receive her degree when DePaul’s School of Computer Science, Telecommunications and Information Services, School of Education and School for New Learning hold joint graduation ceremonies at 11:15 a.m. at the Medinah Temple, 600 N. Wabash Ave. A reception will follow at the Marriott Hotel, 540 N. Michigan Ave.

Mosely-Wicks’ decision to attend college was the result of a confluence of events in her life. She had raised her children and one grandchild and was an empty nester with her husband. Quite frankly, she said, she didn’t know what to do with herself.

"It all started out as a mid-life crisis, and I decided to go to school instead of a psychiatrist," she said. "I was involved in two separate downsizings, and after the second one I said, ‘This is it, I am not going back to that rat race again.’"

As she raised her family, she kept telling herself that she was going to go back to school. Mosely-Wicks was disappointed when none of her children graduated from college, although they are all successful.

"I kept talking to my friend and saying I wanted a success story," Mosely-Wicks said as she longed for a college diploma within her family. "‘Be your own success story’, my friend kept telling me," she said.

Mosely-Wicks’ return to school has not been a cakewalk. The same friend who urged her to go to school has listened to Mosely-Wicks say repeatedly, "I can’t do this, I’m too old."

Mosely-Wicks has worked full-time as a night registration clerk at Palos Community Hospital, where her supervisor arranges her schedule to accommodate classes. "During the quarter, no one hears from me," she said. "On break, I surface and talk to family and friends. And during finals, forget it, nobody better call. My kids know better."

Mosely-Wicks plans to do her student teaching this fall, but does not plan to teach; she would rather work as counselor in a school in her South Side community and work on a master’s degree.

"In our community, the African-American community, we have children raising children for two or three generations," she said. "They do not have the foggiest clue."

Since 1989, DePaul’s School of Education has offered classes to returning students to meet state certification requirements. Charles Doyle, assistant dean of the School of Education, said the program is a success.

"These students tend to be highly focused and committed to the task of gaining teacher certification," said Doyle. "They are more mature and experienced than undergraduate students and bring that maturity and background to their studies.

DePaul will present more than 3,500 degrees from June 13 through June 15. The weekend’s commencement events will begin with a Baccalaureate Mass at 4 p.m., June 13, at St. Vincent’s Church, 1010 W. Webster Ave. for graduates, their families and faculty.