From Cap and Gown to ‘I Do’

On May 23, Mitzu and Michael Esther walked across the stage at San Bernardino Valley College’s Commencement to receive their degrees. Then, just a few hours later, they stood together once more and got married. It was a day filled with celebration, joy, and the love of the five children who were their motivation on every step of the journey.

Mitzu and Michael met in 2010 while working at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, and their friendship grew into something more in 2018. Along the way, they made a decision that would change everything: they committed to going back to school and finishing what they had started years before.

“We were talking one day about our goals,” Mitzu said. “We had both taken classes here and there, but we knew if we were going to build a better life, especially for our daughters, we had to go back and finish.”

They made it work however they could. While one was working, the other was studying. Homework happened during nap time, in the car, or whenever they could grab a few minutes. Mitzu studied psychology and liberal arts, while Michael focused on administration of justice, history and philosophy. Their majors were different, but their reason was the same: they wanted something better for their family.

Once they received their graduation clearance earlier this year, "it just hit us," Mitzu said, and they decided to get married the same day as commencement. Their children, ranging in age from two to 19, witnessed both milestones.“ Our biggest goal is to leave something meaningful for our kids,” Michael said. “What better example than to show them what it looks like to not give up.”