For Deborah Dunn and her 17-year-old son Jarvis, this May isn’t just about caps, gowns and ceremonies — it’s about the power of perseverance, shared dreams and defying the odds.

Deborah, 40, will be walking across the stage to receive her third degree — a master’s in Hospitality Management from the University of Mississippi — while her son Jarvis will don his own graduation robe as he completes his journey at Oxford High School. 

A single mother who’s spent 14 years in the healthcare field, Deborah’s educational journey began with an associate degree in healthcare administration, followed by a bachelor’s in long-term healthcare Administration. 

Now, with her master’s nearly complete, she’s balancing a 4.0 GPA with her full-time job in student housing at Ole Miss.

“I’ve done direct care, worked in mental health, been a supervisor,” she said. “Now I’m in student housing, and I love the connection with people—students and parents. Hospitality was a different route, but it fits where I am now.”

Jarvis has grown up watching his mom’s dedication firsthand.

“Seeing her study late at night after a long day showed me what hard work really looks like,” Jarvis said of his mother. 

Jarvis has been busy himself. A student-athlete who ran track and played football for Oxford High, he works at the Ole Miss Airport, helping visitors with luggage and maintenance. After football season, he works over at mTrade Park. His plans for after graduation is to attend Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, majoring in sports management. He will be a manager for the football team and eventually, he plans on being a manager for the Ole Miss Rebels. 

There have been nights when both mother and son were cramming for tests, a scene familiar to many families—but with a twist.

“There were times I was stressed, overwhelmed,” Deborah said. “And Jarvis, he’d calm me down. He’d say, ‘Mom, you’ve got this. You’ve done it before.’ He’s the peacemaker. I’m the over-thinker.”

Deborah’s journey began at Northwest years ago, but it was interrupted when she became pregnant with Jarvis. Critics doubted she’d finish.

 “They said I wouldn’t make it,” she said. “So I was determined to prove them wrong …No dream is too big. If you believe and work hard, you can make it happen.”

As graduation approaches, both are excited to celebrate their achievements together.

“This isn’t just my moment – it’s our moment,” Deborah said. “We’ve supported each other all the way.”