Shelter Dog Meal Donation Count:

Learn More

College Grad Receives Diploma Alongside Service Dog Who Made It All Possible

By: Dina Fantegrossi
Dina Fantegrossi is the Assistant Editor and Head Writer for HomeLife Media. Before her career in writing, Dina was a veterinary technician for more than 15 years.Read more
| December 18, 2017

On Saturday, December 16, Taylor Dearman crossed the commencement stage at Texas A & M University in Corpus Christi to receive her Bachelor of Science degree in Reading Education. By her side – as she has been for the past four years – was Skittles, Dearman’s service dog.

The joyous day marked an occasion Dearman may never have experienced if not for the mixed breed pup.

“At my last university, I started experiencing anxiety, severe depression and seizures,” Dearman shared with the university blog. “It was so bad that I had to quit school and take a year off. I ended up moving to Georgia, and that is where I met Skittles.”

The dog accompanied her to all of her classes and even inspired her to change her major from nursing to education. In Dearman’s student teaching courses, Skittles became an invaluable teaching tool.

She helped educate the students about the responsibilities of owning a service dog and the diverse range of people who may depend on them.

Dearman and Skittles will officially begin their new job as fifth-grade Reading Teachers for Kostoryz Elementary School in January.

“As an educator, I’m more willing to tell everyone that just because you can’t see a disability doesn’t mean it’s not there,” said Dearman. “I think that’s where Skittles has helped me the most. I know I’m different but together as a team, we’ve come so far and have accomplished so many great things.”

 

H/T to Texas A & M University Corpus Christi

Featured Image Screenshot via YouTube/Inside Edition

 

Recent Articles

Interested in learning even more about all things dogs? Get your paws on more great content from iHeartDogs!

Read the Blog

Leave a Comment