A Journey in Secret: The Woman Who Gave Her Parents a Graduation Surprise

A Daughter Fulfills Her Father’s Wish—by Surprising Him with Her Own Diploma

As a wife to a military man and a mother, Jade Pfiester’s days were filled with the demands of family life and the pressures of two part-time jobs. Even with adult responsibilities, she held onto a childhood dream: earning a degree from the University of Tennessee. Growing up, she had listened to her father’s hopeful talk about one of his children graduating from Rocky Top, a goal that had yet to be realized. Even though she lived in another state, Jade was determined to make this Tennessee dream a reality.

She had earned an Associate of Arts degree, and when her husband decided to pursue his graduate degree, the couple thought it would be a great accomplishment for both of them to return to school. Despite living in Maryland and juggling multiple responsibilities, Jade knew precisely where she wanted to attend. During her research, she found Vols Online, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s online learning program, and enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Programs (BAIP). However, she kept her academic pursuit a secret from her parents, not out of fear or uncertainty, but as a surprise to fulfill her father’s lifelong wish.

One of the most significant considerations of returning to school was balancing work and life commitments. With the support of an academic advisor, Jade developed a plan that helped her manage her busy life while pursuing her goal. In addition to the educational benefits, the online program helped her build technology and time management skills. She used multiple calendars that listed activities, schedules, and assignments. Her professors also provided extra support, willing to meet via video to discuss class-related concerns or personal development, like career opportunities and goals. 

“I loved the flexibility of Vols Online. I also loved the creative ideas that teachers had for how to make online learning more fun. It wasn’t just assignments, discussion boards, and tests. They had created chatrooms, assigned group activities, and used programs to make it more interactive and personal.”

– Jade Pfiester, 2024 graduate, Bachelor of Arts, Interdisciplinary Programs

Jade thrived in her new role as a student. Putting her new organizational skills to use and with the help of her personal and academic families, she excelled. Her professors helped create assignments that put classroom practice into real-life situations so the students could apply the knowledge they learned. Remarkably, she kept her academic journey a secret from her parents until the end.

The last step in her plan was to bring her parents to the graduation ceremony without revealing the true reason for their visit. She invited them on a family trip to Tennessee, telling them it was to celebrate her son’s fifth-grade graduation. Once they were together, Jade told them they were all attending a show on Saturday. Excusing herself to another room, she returned in her cap and gown, announcing that the “show” was her graduation. Her father was so stunned that he couldn’t move or speak. Her parents were even more thrilled when they learned of the awards she was receiving. Jade graduated Summa Cum Laude, was selected as Outstanding Graduate during the commencement ceremony, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies, and, most importantly, fulfilled her and her father’s dream of graduating from the University of Tennessee. 

As part of the BAIP, Jade took advantage of the opportunity to study abroad in Germany during a mini-term focusing on urban sustainability. Looking to the future, she aspires to have a career in international and environmental sustainability work and may pursue a master’s degree. She is confident heading towards the next phase in her life, and the Vols Online experience has helped prepare her for everything needed to start a career.