SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A man beaming with pride took to social media to share a photo of his parents who went back to school and graduated college together.
Charles Cole III posted a photo of his smiling parents, Renate and Charles Cole to Twitter with the caption “My parents went back to college together and they graduated today. Together #salute.”
The younger Cole told ABC News his parents had previously battled crack addiction. They were inspired by their son graduating college to get sober and go back to school.
“Well, if he can do it, we can do it too,” the father told ABC News. “We embedded this in him.”
Their dreams of pursuing education were put on hold by their addictions and raising three children.
Now sober for over two decades, the Coles went back to school and got their degrees.
The couple attended Sacramento Theological Seminary and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies. They plan to further their ministry and help homeless veterans.
They aren’t planning on stopping their education just yet. The couple hopes to earn their doctorates and later open a church.
