It isn’t often that parents attend three of their children’s college graduations within two weeks of each other.
However, that’s exactly how Mark and Belinda Brigolin of Lake Orion spent the weekends of May 6 and May 14, as their daughters Heather, 27, and Tiffany 23, and son Marc Anthony, 25, all received their degrees.
Tiffany received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from Oakland University on May 6, graduating Cum Laude with Communications Honors.
Marc Anthony, a member of the Orion Township Fire Department, working out of Station #3 in Gingellville, graduated from The University of Michigan on May 7, with a Bachelor of Business Administration.
He also graduated with University Honors, as well as a nomination for the Maze and Blue Award.
Heather, who lives in Troy, received her law degree from the Michigan State University College of Law on May 14.
The Brigolin’s also have another daughter, Laura, who lives in Washington state and is a member of the United States Air Force.
‘They got through college with very little financial help from us,? said Belinda. ‘They all had scholarships, grants and loans…Marc Anthony worked full-time, and Heather and Tiffany also worked to help with their living expenses.?
Belinda said the three are very different, calling Heather her ‘quiet child,? and mature beyond her age.
‘She likes her life organized,? she said. ‘Marc Anthony likes to be doing something all the time, and Tiffany loves music, and has always sung to express herself. She actually sang with Donny Osmond in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.?
Belinda noted that both Heather and Marc Anthony speak French fluently, and spent their senior years of high school living in Renne, France. Marc Anthony has one class left to take before receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in French.
Tiffany took Spanish at OU, and also sign language, which Belinda said she excelled at.
‘It’s wonderful to watch her ‘talk? to the deaf,? she said.
‘There have been some challenges for each of them to overcome, but they did, and in my eyes, they are great successes…I am so proud of them,? said Belinda.
Heather and Marc Anthony both attended high school at Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills, while Tiffany graduated from The Roeper School in Birmingham.
The circumstances that led to the three graduating at nearly the same time involves all of them working their way through school, and in Marc Anthony’s case, deciding to attend the Fire/EMT Academy at the same time he was taking college classes.
‘I transferred universities twice, and switched my major from engineering to business,? Marc Anthony said, adding he would like to pursue a career in marketing although he’s currently employed by a large retailer.
He’s already logged nearly four years on the fire department, and admitted it has often been a challenge to work, volunteer and go to school at the same time.
‘I wanted to serve my community,? he said. ‘We’ve lived here our whole lives.?
Tiffany also transferred schools, from Alma College to Oakland, and took time off for personal reasons.
‘I changed my major a couple of times,? she said. ‘I also worked while I went to school.?
Tiffany is interested in a career in advertising and promotions, and is also looking into a Master’s Degree program in communications or counseling.
‘I set my goals, and I meet them,? she said. ‘I think it would be nice to go back and be a college professor.?
Heather completed her undergraduate degree at Oakland University in communications as well, and also worked while going to law school. She will take the Bar Exam in July.
The three were able to attend each others? graduation ceremonies, and in Sept. the entire family will gather in Florida at Disney World, for their first-ever family vacation.
‘It has been insanity, but I wouldn’t want it any other way,? said Marc Anthony, who added he managed by ‘not sleeping.?
‘I learned a lot of time management skills for a future career,? he joked. ‘And I think it speaks a lot of us that Tiffany and I both graduated with high honors.?
Heather will start looking for a job this summer, and isn’t sure yet what type of law she wants to focus on.
‘I like transactional work more than litigation,? she said. ‘I’ve interned with both state and federal governments, and I enjoy government work.?
Heather would like to spend some time traveling, after attending school for the past three years and editing the Journal of Medicine and Law, which she called a ‘fulltime job that you don’t get paid for.?
‘I was also in Delta Theta Phi, a legal fraternity,? she said.
Tiffany looks forward to having some free time this summer, and wants to spend some of it getting more involved in community volunteering. She also loves to act and sing.
‘That’s my passion,? she said. ‘I want to continue that. My ultimate goal would be to see my name in lights.?