Among the 113 people graduating from the Bermuda College today is one with a special story.

Pandora Clemons, 50, has finally earned the degree she started in 2000.

She’s one of 16 students who benefited from the College’s partnership with Mount Saint Vincent University in Canada.

It puts her one step closer to her dream of becoming an accountant.

“Sometimes it was a challenge, but I persevered,” she said of her 15-year journey. “My goal, at one point, was to finish my degree at 40 but it didn’t work out like that.”

The mother-of-two held down a full-time job while studying. Her husband Willie helped with the children but there were years of sacrifice.

She graduated from the Berkeley Institute in 1981 and planned to study accounting at Acadia University in Canada but didn’t have the funding for it.

“And then I found out about a programme where I could get everything done here,” she said.

The two-year course in business studies at the Bermuda College gave her the option of later transferring her credits for study abroad.

“In my last year I messed around and everything went out the window,” she said.

She took a year’s break and then completed the programme while working full-time.

“That same year I got married. I graduated in June ‘85 and got married in September ‘85.”

Mrs Clemons next set her sights on achieving her CMA designation. Her daughter Ashayo, was six years old when she sat the final exam in 1994 and she was expecting her son, Willie.

“At the time you didn’t need a degree to go through the Course Management Accounting programme. I enrolled and had to do certificate courses and once I did the exam, had to do a year of seminars to get the designation.

“I attempted the exam but I didn’t pass.”

She took a five-year break from her studies to look after her son.

“When I went back to the College things had changed with the CMA programme. You had to have a bachelor’s degree.”

It was fortunate for her that the College had partnered with Mount Saint Vincent University however the degree’s requirements meant she had to start all over.

“I got credit for some of the courses but some I had to do over because I’d taken such a long break.”

The long-distance learning programme enabled her to complete her bachelor of business administration degree on Island.

She only took one course per semester for the most part, because of her obligations to her family.

“I was working full-time and had two children,” she said.

“If the finances weren’t too good I wouldn’t take a course. I have two children, my youngest is in college and I’d always wanted him to go abroad. I sacrificed for him to go. At one point I even sacrificed my courses so he could go.”

Mrs Clemons was working at AIG when she started her studies. She’s been at BF&M for the past nine years. She said the company has been very supportive, paying for any courses related to her field of work.

Today’s graduates will receive certificates in 22 programmes.

Mrs Clemons said her family would likely mark her achievement with a brunch on Sunday.

They’ll be celebrating again in September when she and her husband mark 30 years of marriage.