Des Plaines Community College Graduate Balances Motherhood, Business And Academic Success

Des Plaines, Illinois — Illinois is home to students who are showing up, standing out and making a real impact in their schools and communities. To celebrate them, Patch and T-Mobile have partnered to spotlight local students excelling in academics, athletics, the arts and beyond.

This submission comes from Carolyn Futrell, who nominated Datianna Tolbert.

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If you know a student who deserves recognition, we want to hear about them! Click here to nominate them to be featured as a Star Student on Patch.

What is the star student’s name?

Datianna Tolbert

What grade is the student in?

Graduate of community college.

How do you know the star student?

I am her mother.

Tell us about your star student's accomplishments and why they deserve to be recognized on Patch!

I am so proud of my daughter, a strong, smart and determined young woman. She started college in 2015, and shortly after, life began to move quickly. She entered a relationship, got engaged and soon became a mother. At that time, she made the decision to focus on her family, and I wasn’t sure if she would return to school.

But she did.

She went back with focus and determination, and today she holds an impressive GPA and is graduating this month. Along the way, she has raised a beautiful 10-year-old daughter, making sure she is supported, educated and involved in extracurricular activities. She balances it all — working, coming home to cook meals, studying and still showing up fully as a mother.

On top of that, she started and runs her own business, proudly named after her daughter, and she’s doing very well.

I am beyond proud of the woman she has become. Her strength, resilience and dedication inspire me every single day.

What three words best describe your star student?

Strong, brave, determined.

Keep up the great work, Datianna Tolbert! If you know a star student who deserves recognition, we want to hear about them! Click here to nominate them to be featured on Patch.

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