Warwick student-parent walks with son at graduation despite initial pushback from high school

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — A reversal of fortune of the best kind for a young mother who wanted nothing more than to walk across the graduation stage with her baby in tow.

When ABC 6 News first reported this story Tuesday evening, Warwick schools told the mom that commencement was only for students but little did she know, an 11th hour exception was in the cards.

The crowd cheered Wednesday afternoon as Valerie Landry received her diploma from Pilgrim High School and doing so while holding her son, Grayson.

“It feels amazing, I don’t even have words to explain, I’m so happy,” said Landry.

Landry had her son during her junior year when she was 16-years-old.

Landry was previously told she was not allowed to walk at graduation with her son but she says the principal changed his mind last minute.

“He 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,” explained Landry.

She graduated with high honors and as a varsity athlete.

Landry said the commencement is something she’ll never forget.

“I got to share the best moment of the life with my son,” said Landry.

A high school graduation is often though of as the moment you really start your life and enter into the real world but for Landry, reality hit sooner.

Her message for anyone going through something similar? Never give up.

“Keep pushing no matter how hard it gets, it’s the best thing that could ever happen in life and don’t let anybody put you down,” said Landry.

Landry would like to work for Electric Boat or go to trade school in the future.