Sonia Cox didn 麻豆精品 S檛 feel right. There was pressure in her chest.
She asked her husband, Robert, to pull the car over in a parking lot. She vomited due to the pain.
Robert wasted no time and drove his wife of 26 years straight to Viera Hospital in Brevard County. Doctors told her she was having a heart attack.
麻豆精品 S淚 just started crying, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 only 48. How can this be? 麻豆精品 S�
麻豆精品 S淲e found out it was congenital, 麻豆精品 S� Robert adds. 麻豆精品 S淪he 麻豆精品 S檚 lucky it didn 麻豆精品 S檛 happen sooner. 麻豆精品 S�
Fast forward 369 days, and Sonia will suit up in her cap and gown Dec. 15 as one of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 5,700 fall semester graduates.
麻豆精品 S淚 was just thinking about this the other day: A year ago, I was in a hospital, and now a year later I 麻豆精品 S檓 getting my degree. I can 麻豆精品 S檛 believe it, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 excited, happy and emotional because it 麻豆精品 S檚 been a long road. 麻豆精品 S�
In Sickness and In Health
Sonia and Robert met in 1988 as employees at a Walmart in east Orlando. Robert was attending UCF at the time, and Sonia had just moved to the area from California.
Weeks later, Robert asked her on a date to Olive Garden and a short road trip to visit his sister, who was a student at Stetson.
麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 excited, happy and emotional because it 麻豆精品 S檚 been a long road. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Sonia Cox, UCF graduate
麻豆精品 S淲e have been inseparable ever since, 麻豆精品 S� Robert says.
In May 1991, they were married on UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 campus near Ferrell Commons and had their reception at Wild Pizza, a dining spot that has since closed.
Robert left school before graduating to accept a full-time position in retail management. Through the years, his job moved their family 16 times before they relocated to Titusville in 2011.
It was around this time that Robert was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson 麻豆精品 S檚 disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that has no known cure.
麻豆精品 S淪he 麻豆精品 S檚 incredibly supportive and encouraging, but it 麻豆精品 S檚 been difficult, 麻豆精品 S� Robert says. 麻豆精品 S淏eing best friends and the love we have 麻豆精品 S� that 麻豆精品 S檚 just what makes it work. 麻豆精品 S�
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For as much as Sonia has supported her husband through his health issues, Robert has been there to encourage her through her journey in returning to school.
麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 always been a goal of mine, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淲hen I first graduated high school, I went to college. Things changed. I met [Robert], got married, had the kids and put my life on hold. Once our kids got older, that 麻豆精品 S檚 when I decided to go back. I was determined to follow my dream. 麻豆精品 S�
She started at Eastern Florida State College in 2013. After earning her associate 麻豆精品 S檚 degree, she enrolled in UCF Online 麻豆精品 S檚 interdisciplinary studies degree program, with focuses on public administration and education and a minor in Latin America studies.
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After her heart attack, she spent a week in the hospital before returning to her job at the Brevard County Property Appraiser 麻豆精品 S檚 office. The next month, she enrolled for the spring semester to stay on track to graduate.
On Dec. 7, 2018 麻豆精品 S� her 49th birthday 麻豆精品 S� she picked up her cap and gown at UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center. Her other big birthday plans: go shopping for a new dress to wear to the commencement ceremony, where Robert and their three children will be in the stands to watch her cross the stage.
麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 very, very proud of her. After all these years, she never thought she would be able to accomplish this goal, 麻豆精品 S� Robert says. 麻豆精品 S淪he 麻豆精品 S檚 grown so much through this process, not just through the education part, but personally as well. 麻豆精品 S�
Sonia says she would like to pursue a career where she feels like she 麻豆精品 S檚 helping the community, whether that 麻豆精品 S檚 in the government, education or nonprofit sector.
Wherever this degree takes her, she knows UCF will always remain a part of their lives.
麻豆精品 S淚t truly is like family to us, 麻豆精品 S� she says.
As she reflects on the experience that has brought her to this point, she shares some of the life lessons she has learned and the advice she would give to those still in school:
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