ONE CLASSY FAMILY

Graduating trio includes mother and her children

Although they are excited about graduating, they will miss being simultaneous students.

NATALIE LARICCIA

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

Spring is the season to celebrate for the studious Strom family.

That’s because three of the four-member Boardman family have completed or will soon complete an integral phase of their education, beginning their journey into another chapter of their lives.

The graduating trio includes mother Susan and her children, Stephanie and Stephen.

Susan and Stephanie received their diplomas Saturday from Youngstown State University, with Susan earning her master’s degree in health and human services and Stephanie earning her bachelor’s in merchandising: fashion and interiors.

Stephen, 19, who attended Boardman High School and the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, will attend MCCTC and Boardman’s graduation ceremonies June 5 and 7, respectively. While attending Boardman, Stephen completed MCCTC’s truck and diesel-mechanics program.

A 12-year employee with Park Vista Retirement Community in Youngstown, where she currently serves as a clinical dietitian, Susan hopes her master’s degree will help her further her career and offer promotion opportunities. She earned her bachelor’s in nutrition from YSU in fall 2004.

As a certified photo technician at Walgreens in Boardman, 24-year-old Stephanie will begin her career in mid-June as an assistant manager at Walgreens in Greenville, S.C.

Stephanie said she’s excited to begin her career in a new area. In a difficult economy, she’s also excited to have a job aligned upon graduation.

She said her degree provided her with an opportunity to combine business and art knowledge and offered her marketing and merchandising skills.

These skills are helpful in her current Walgreens position and will transcend into her upcoming managerial role with the company, she said.

Stephen, meanwhile, was recently laid off from a technician position at Fyda Freightliner in Youngstown.

After graduation, he’s hoping to pursue a diesel technician position, possibly targeting open positions in the southern United States.

Helping each other

Although the Stroms express excitement about the graduations, they all agreed they will miss the times they shared as simultaneous students.

The trio relied on one another for study help and moral support, they said.

They would often read one another’s papers and offer advice on how to better improve their assignments.

They also urged one anther to keep going during difficult times when quitting seemed like a better alternative.

“It kind of just came naturally. We were each other’s cheerleaders,” Susan said.

Their hectic schedules posed difficulties, however, such as competing for time to use the computer.

Sleep became a luxury and was often sacrificed for study and work.

With managing busy work and class schedules, it was also difficult to spend quality family time together.

Limited time together

The family, which also includes Ron — Susan’s husband and Stephanie and Stephen’s father — tries to squeeze in a family meal or outing in their sparse spare time.

Since she enrolled in her master’s classes in fall 2006, Susan worked during the day and took classes at night.

At one point, Stephanie was simultaneously working full time at Walgreens and Wendy’s while taking six classes.

A truck driver with West Side Transport, Ron is typically gone most of the week, returning home on weekends.

Despite the hubbub, the family remains positive and proud.

“I think it’s great. I’m proud of them — especially for sticking to it. … The time is limited, but you try to cherish the time you have,” Ron said.

Although they don’t have concrete plans, the family intends to celebrate all three graduations with friends and family, capping off the activities with a dinner or party, and possibly even a little champagne, Susan said.