DAMMAM – A mother and her son together graduated from an American University, and celebrated their success with zest, Al-Hayat daily reported. The mother, Fatima Al-Ghafli, earned her bachelor's degree in mathematics and her son Islam in petroleum engineering. The 48-year-old mother also plans to pursue her postgraduate studies. Fatima and Islam spent hours studying together to prepare for their exams. In fact, Fatima performed better in some subjects than her son. Fatima worked as a mathematics teacher at a middle school in Al-Ahsa City before she developed an eye disease following her resignation, which coincided with her husband's decision to do PhD in the US. She went with him to get treated there and stay with him. She and Islam enrolled in the same university. Islam said the best moment of his life was when he saw the looks of admiration and respect in the professor's eyes when he introduced his mother to them. “We took six courses together and my mother helped in most courses.” When Islam and his mother went to buy their graduation gowns, the shopkeeper, a woman, told Islam's mother, “You're the perfect mother.” — SG
