Supporting Student Parents

After a video on TikTok went viral, I realized the importance of walking the graduation stage with my son. Balancing two jobs, being a full-time dad, and pursuing my education has been challenging, but I promised my son that I would walk that stage with him. It symbolized every sacrifice and sleepless night.

During a prep session, I was told it was fine to walk with a baby. No one objected, so I didn't see a reason to double-check. I've seen others walk with their babies at graduations before, so it didn't seem like a big deal. That's why I was surprised when they tried to stop me and involved campus police. Thankfully, my professors supported me, and the crowd cheered.

I didn't mean to cause a scene. I have a lot of respect for UB and my professors. I was just a proud dad, keeping a promise. It's time we normalize seeing fathers in these moments. Being active, present, and proud shouldn't be surprising. It should be celebrated just like we do for moms. I'm raising funds to support parents like me who are balancing education and family responsibilities.