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Irma García spent decades raising a family, working two jobs and helping others. On Saturday, the 72-year-old grandmother will achieve a goal she set before moving to the mainland United States: earning her bachelor’s degree.

García will cross the stage at George Mason University to receive a degree in public administration, five years after enrolling in the university’s Schar School of Policy and Government.

Born in a San Juan, Puerto Rico, neighborhood, García came to the mainland in 1978 to continue her education and pursue a better life for her three young daughters, who were all 3 or younger. She initially brought her oldest child, then returned to Puerto Rico three months later for her 1-year-old twins.

Education was a family tradition. García’s grandmother completed high school alongside her sons, while her mother earned a bachelor’s degree after retiring from government service.

García began college in Puerto Rico and later transferred credits to Northern Virginia Community College, where she earned a two-year degree. She pursued her studies while raising her daughters as a single mother and holding two jobs.

During the day, García worked in the purchasing office at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale. At night, she prepared salad bars at Wendy’s. Even with that schedule, she remained active with her children on her days off.

“I loved my kids so much,” she said. “Even on the weekends when I didn’t work, we were always doing stuff.”

Her associate degree helped her build a career that included serving as a nonprofit executive director.

“With only a two-year degree, I was even able to be an executive director at a nonprofit,” García said. “I had beautiful jobs helping people.”

Her daughter, Ileana Muñez, said earning a bachelor’s degree has long been one of García’s dreams. The family still keeps photographs of her receiving awards in elementary school.

García passed her commitment to education down through the family. All three daughters attended college and pursued careers in law, government and technology. Her five grandchildren, who also graduated from college, helped her manage the technology required to complete her Mason coursework.

At the Schar School, advisors described García as an inspiration and an “A-plus advisee.” Surrounded by classmates around her grandchildren’s age, she joked that she sometimes felt like “a living museum.”

Once she has her degree, García hopes to return to nonprofit work part time. Her advice to other single mothers pursuing difficult goals is direct.

“It’s not easy,” she said. “But it can be done. I’m living proof of that.”