Mother and Daughter to Graduate from C.W. Post Together

May 8, 2005 — Brookville, NY – Amrita and Nicole Madray thought they had shared just about everything. The mother-daughter pair, who live in West Hempstead, NY, have a close relationship. Together they shop for groceries, clothing, and furniture for the family, as well as attend PTA conferences, check homework and transport Nicole’s younger siblings to and from school and other activities. This Mother’s Day, May 8, they’ll even graduate together from the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University – Nicole with a B.A in Elementary Education and Amrita with a Master’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

But it's the English class they are taking together this semester – 18th Century Writers on Writing – that cemented the respect that they have for each other, in and out of the classroom.

The class was originally two classes with a graduate and undergraduate section, but a week into the class the professor combined them and mother and daughter found themselves sharing a classroom for the first time in their college careers.

“It was a little weird at first,” admits the 22-year-old Nicole, “but then it turned out to be good.” Amrita laughs, “We sit on opposite ends of the room on purpose. At first, the professor didn't even know we were related until Nicole told him.”

Amrita, 45, who has worked at the B. Davis Schwartz Memorial Library at C.W. Post since 2000 as both an adjunct librarian and, since September 2001, as a Reference Librarian, will be awarded her second post-graduate degree from the University, having graduated with a Master's degree in Library and Information Science in 1999.  As part of her responsibilities, she runs workshops on how plagiarism can be detected and prevented. Her job puts her in contact with students and their needs on a daily basis.

"She knows about college students and the college lifestyle," Nicole said. "She understood my stress when things like midterms would come up and I just needed to get things done. These are things that other parents won't necessarily get."

Juggling a full-time career, full-time schoolwork and raising a family has been challenging for Amrita, but she's happy with the opportunity C.W. Post has afforded her. "If it wasn't for the flexibility and exceptional staff here, I wouldn't have been able to get through it," she said. “One of the reasons I continued my education is because I wanted to be a role model, not only for Nicole but for my other seven younger siblings.” The second-eldest of nine, Amrita is the first of her siblings to graduate with a master’s degree.

Nicole is currently student-teaching in the Uniondale school district. She is looking for a full-time job for the fall. She has worked on campus in the Provost's office and in the Office of Student Affairs and currently works at the Long Island University Center for Gifted Youth.

When the pair was on campus together, they would try to meet for a break or lunch and carpool as often as they could. “What I learned most from Nicole, especially when we carpooled, is that I developed an appreciation for the music many young people listen to today,” Amrita said. “Considering my exposure to music, I must say that I am proud that I can identify some of them my names and sounds.”

“We have always had a good relationship,” said Nicole of her mom. “If anything, it has gotten better because of this experience.”

Amrita and Nicole will be among more than 2,200 students who will don their caps and gowns on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 8, 2005 for the 47th annual commencement exercises of the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. The Campus has awarded more than 90,000 degrees in its 50-year history, through a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs.