Dressed in their traditional cap and gown regalia, Osvaldo Padilla and Aide Duque celebrate earning their second associates degrees on Saturday, May 17, 2025, showing that mutual support leads to mutual success. Photo by: Esteban Del Angel – Texas Southmost College

It was more than just a milestone – it was a moment of mutual pride and perseverance as Aide Duque and Osvaldo Padilla, a married couple and valued staff members at Texas Southmost College, celebrated earning their second associate degrees side by side.

Balancing full-time roles on campus, Duque as an administrative assistant to the Dean of Health Professions, and Padilla as a warehouse specialist for the Maintenance and Facilities Department, the pair have demonstrated that lifelong learning isn’t just something they support in their professional roles; it’s something they actively live out together.

Prior to landing at TSC, the two were already in a relationship, and while their sights were set on the college, it was actually Padilla who first secured a job at TSC. “I first learned about TSC from my spouse,” Padilla began. “She identified me as a possible prospect after applying with a temp agency. I was contacted by the agency for an interview and was lucky enough to be hired. I came in as a temp with the purchasing department, but my involvement later grew when I completed my temporary duties.”

While Duque eventually landed at TSC in her current role, Padilla continued to identify and take on bigger roles. “Because of my background here, I was able to get interview with the Inventory Department as an inventory clerk and ended up getting the position.”

Working for a college provided them with an additional opportunity in the form of continuing their educational pursuits. The choice was easy enough to make, as both had plenty of reasons to take the leap to earn not just one but two associates degrees apiece during their time with TSC.

“We chose to earn two associate degrees in order to widen our professional choices and provide a good example for our three girls,” said Duque “It was possible to continue working full-time while learning thanks to the online model.  We carefully chose complementing programs that would improve our abilities in several fields, increasing our employability.  We regarded it as an investment in our family’s future that would open avenues that neither of us could access with just one degree, even if juggling everything was undoubtedly difficult.”

Throughout their academic journey, they’ve served as each other’s greatest motivators, pushing through long nights, busy schedules, and balancing responsibilities at work and home.

“Mutual support and teamwork were essential to our success,” Duque explained. “One of us would step in to help clarify concepts when the other was having trouble with the course material. Our most active daughter, whose volume level frequently dictated our study schedule, was one of the girls who frequently kept us up past midnight working on papers or presentations after the kids had gone to bed.
Making presentations and taking tests requires meticulous preparation around the demands of our family.”

Ultimately, it was a solid recipe for success, and after putting in the time and effort, they were able to walk the stage at their second commencement to be recognized for their achievement, Duque earning an Associates of Arts in Criminal Justice and Padilla an Associates of Arts in Business.

“That felt like the peak of our journey together, after many late hours spent studying while the girls slept, balancing employment obligations, and helping one another through difficult classes,” said Duque. “Knowing exactly what it needed to achieve this milestone together made us feel incredibly proud of one other as well as of ourselves. It was really touching to witness our daughters in the crowd as both of their parents graduated. It reaffirmed that the sacrifices we made were worthwhile.”

When they look back on their monumental accomplishment, they are also just as quick to show appreciation for everyone who helped them along the way.

“Our three girls deserve special recognition for their everyday inspiration and for their extraordinary patience when academics required our time, and I am incredibly grateful to my mother and sisters for providing childcare during exam periods and for always having faith in our abilities,” said Duque. “We would want to express our gratitude to our College Enrollment Coach, John Cadena, for his amazing assistance with any outstanding paperwork, financial aid documents, and other needs. We also owe each other gratitude for the late-night study sessions, for helping one other understand difficult subjects, and for being each other’s strongest supporters.”

Their story is a reminder that support systems don’t just help students succeed, but they also inspire achievement in others. “For us, education is more than just credentials,” Duque said. “We genuinely think that learning never stops, and we wanted to show our kids that we are dedicated to their long-term development.”