Christine Wells and her daughter, Amanda Douglas, were not as close as they would have liked to be. But after enrolling in the business administration program at Paul D. Camp Community College, their relationship began to evolve into a closeknit one they would come to cherish.

For four years, they helped each other with homework, studied together and came to realize how much they had missed each other’s company.

“I talk to her almost every day now,” said Douglas. “She is not only my mom, but a great friend, as well.”

Wells added, “We truly enjoyed knowing that we would be together in each class, as it was a struggle at times. We would lift each other up when one felt weary. It was a joy.”

Wells, 46, graduated summa cum laude, dedicated to earning a 4.0 grade point average in memory of her mother, who died in 2000.

The wife of an Army veteran and mother of a teenage son, she worked a full-time job in Smithfield and maintained an active membership in Mill Swamp Baptist Church, where her husband is a deacon.

She is a choir member, and previously has served as an Awana leader, Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School director FAITH Team leader and church reporter. Wells works for the Peninsula Rescue Mission.

She earned her Associate’s Degree in business administration and a certificate in general education in May. She is a member of the Omega Zeta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

Douglas, nearly 26, graduated magna cum laude while working a full-time job in Smithfield.

A wife as well, she found a way to balance home life, school life and work. She attended Smithfield High School and graduated from Alpha Omega Publications home school. Douglas had received seven local scholarships while enrolled at PDCCC.

She, too, is a member of the Omega Zeta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Douglas earned her Associate’s Degree in business administration and a certificate in general education in May.

In addition, the Ivor residents are the first in their family to graduate college with a degree.

“My mother actually started going to PDCCC the semester before I did,” said Douglas. “She encouraged me to begin taking classes, and said, ‘If I can do it, you can do it!’”

Both mother and daughter now plan to pursue bachelor’s degrees, and Amanda’s brother plans to take some dual enrollment classes at PDCCC before he enrolls full-time at the college.

“Our experience at PDCCC has been rewarding in so many ways,” said Wells “To God be the glory for allowing me to attend college and perform well, because all good things come from above.”