Dragon Descendants

DRAGON DESCENDANTS: MARYSSA OLIVER’S STORY AS A THIRD-GENERATION STUDENT

For many people looking to pursue a college degree, the process of selecting an institution that is just right can be overwhelming. As there are nearly 4,000 accredited colleges and universities operating in the U.S., this is an understandable dilemma. Many prospective students spend months researching, touring and interviewing at dozens of schools before determining where to apply. This, however, was not the case for a new Tiffin University alumna, Maryssa Oliver, who knew she wanted to join the Dragon Family by the age of six. When asked about her willingness to share her story as a third-generation Dragon with the public, she jumped at the chance.

According to Maryssa, she began telling people she would be going to TU in the hopes of becoming a mathematics teacher very early in life, and spoke to the subject with a decided conviction, even as a young girl. She didn’t just want to attend TU; she would study here. For Maryssa, there was no plan B, as her maternal grandfather is a TU alumnus, having spent many years as a decorated law enforcement officer post-graduation. However, the determining factor for Maryssa was seeing firsthand how faculty and staff treated her mother, who earned her own degree through TU. As a then-single parent of two daughters and full-time factory worker, Delayna Somers’s educational journey is nothing short of inspiring. Delayna used what little free time she had to further her education, despite the obvious strain of filling these many roles. Though it happened over a decade ago, Maryssa clearly remembers her mother’s grit during moments of hardship.

“There were a lot of nights my grandparents had to put my sister and me to bed, because she was still at school,” said Maryssa. “Sometimes my mom would cry alone in her room because she felt so overwhelmed. I remember a specific conversation she had with my grandma, even though I was only five at the time. She told her, ‘You know, if I can just follow through with this, it’ll be the best decision not only for my daughters’ lives, but for mine.’ I always knew she was trying to set us up for a better future.”

For Maryssa’s mother, the hard work and perseverance paid off. She is now a Senior Accountant at Bridgestone APM Company, and both she and Maryssa commend TU for its commitment to go above and beyond in accommodating students, whether traditional or nontraditional.

“Tiffin University was willing to be open-minded throughout my experience to ensure that I would graduate with my desired degree,” Delayna said. “I will always recommend Tiffin University because they were ready to adapt to my full-time job and allowed me to bring in my children as a single mom. Because of the level of learning that I received at Tiffin University, I was able to take on corporate-level responsibilities without previous experience.”

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