A Rhode Island honors student accepted her diploma with her toddler in hand as school administrators changed course on an “unfair” rule at the last second on Wednesday night.
Valerie Landry received resounding applause as she carried her 1-year-old son Grayson on her hip during Pilgrim High School’s commencement ceremony at the University of Rhode Island’s Ryan Center.
Landry, who was 16 when she gave birth to her son in December 2022, was told before the event that she was not allowed to have her son or any family members accompany her across the stage, according to WLNE.
Valerie Landry walks across the stage with her son, Grayson, at Pilgrim High School’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday. Warwick Public Schools/YouTube“Warwick Public Schools has a long-standing tradition of recognizing the accomplishments of each one of our individual students at each high school’s graduation,” the school district said, according to the outlet. “To that end, we only allow students to participate in commencement ceremonies, as we receive many requests for families and supporters to participate, too.”
On Tuesday, Landry told the outlet that she planned to defy the school’s ruling and bring Grayson with her when she crossed the stage.
“I am going to have him with me,” Landry said before the ceremony. “I spoke with them and asked what would happen, and they didn’t really give me anything, but at this point I passed all my classes, finished my senior project with honorable mention, so we’ll see what happens.”
Landry, however, received the school’s blessing before the ceremony.
“(The principal) really came to the realization that it’s my day and it should be what I want, it’s not anybody else’s day. He let me do what I wanted to do and it’s the proudest moment of my life,” Landry told the outlet after the graduation.
Landry was welcomed with a handshake and a hug while Grayson even earned himself a pat on the head.
Grayson’s father, Jacob Waldron, went through a similar experience when he graduated from a different school last year.
Landry was received on stage with a welcoming handshake and a hug, and Grayson even earned himself a pat on the head. Warwick Public Schools/YouTube
Landry called her son one of her biggest achievements in high school and she was very proud of him. ABC6“I think it’s really unfair actually,” Waldron told the outlet. “I feel like you should be able to. I see other schools doing it so why can’t she?”
Wednesday’s ceremony was extra momentous as Grayson, who was born with a cleft palate, underwent his final surgery last week.
“He’s one of my biggest achievements in high school. It took a lot, and I’m very proud of him,” the proud mother said. “It’s one of my biggest things, and I’d be honored to have him up on stage with me just to show everybody that you can push through anything.”
Wednesday’s ceremony was extra momentous as Grayson, who was born with a cleft palate, underwent his final surgery last week. Warwick Public Schools/YouTubeLandry was forced to switch to half-days at the school over constant bullying from her classmates.
“They basically said (Grayson) was born on drugs, that this (pointing to Waldron) was not my baby daddy and I was messing around with other people,” Landry told the outlet.
Landry’s mother praised the honors student for graduating high school as a full-time mother and varsity athlete.
“I have to give her a lot of credit, because if I was in her shoes I would’ve never followed through,” Janine Landry said. “I would’ve dropped out of school, but she chose everyday to come to school and to get to where she’s out, and I’m proud of her.”
