ATHOL, Mass. - After years of supporting her family as a military spouse and mom of three, a Worcester County woman accomplished her dream of graduating college.

Victoria Meuse and her three kids moved to Athol at the start of the pandemic while her husband was stationed in Georgia.

Her youngest is immunocompromised, so she homeschooled her children at first, while taking online classes at Southern New Hampshire University to complete her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

She’s working as a paraprofessional in a kindergarten class at Athol Elementary and said she will be a teacher this coming fall.

Meuse said this was her third time trying to finish college and is glad she succeeded and can show her kids her determination.

“I definitely drew myself thin, but it taught (my children) resilience,” Meuse said. “They’ve moved countless times and they bounce back. They focus in school, learning new sports, and put themselves out there. I don’t think they would be that way if it weren’t for me continuing to push and show them it’s possible.”

Meuse said now she wants to get her masters but has to decide whether she wants it in education or psychology.