Mom and Twins Graduate College Together, Twice

A mother and her twin daughters have celebrated a unique academic milestone, graduating together with bachelor's degrees from Palo Alto College. This achievement marks the second time the trio has graduated from the same institution, having previously earned their associate degrees in 2018.

Brenda Arreola, 50, had initially left Palo Alto College in 1998 during a high-risk pregnancy with her daughters, Daena and Danae. Despite setting aside her dream of becoming an attorney, she focused on raising her children and later co-founded a bakery business with them.

When the daughters were 16, Brenda encouraged them to start college. A few years later, Daena and Danae returned the favor, urging their mother to complete her education with them. In 2018, they all earned associate degrees. More recently, they pursued bachelor's degrees in applied technology in management, a program offering flexibility for simultaneous work and study.

Brenda, now working for a school district, expressed gratitude for her daughters' motivation. Daena and Danae also shared their positive experience of studying together, calling it a 'pretty cool journey.' Both daughters are considering pursuing master's degrees, inspired by their maternal grandmother's belief that one can never be overeducated.