Her threshold wore thin, with endless homework and a stockpile of bills.

Fortunately, her boyfriend, George Dapo, stepped up to help.

"We've worked poor dad into the ground," Finnell said, their 4-year-old daughter, Abigail, sitting on her lap in their two-bedroom trailer in the City of Plattsburgh.

Plus, her professors at CCC showered her with support, and as she began to receive academic awards, she found her second wind.

"The faculty would really step in and bend over backwards for you," Finnell said. "They really don't want to see you fail."

Some teachers offered to meet her after hours at Burger King.

So she pushed herself forward, pinching pennies and going without, knowing things would improve once she graduated and started her career.

"I can easily see how single moms who want an education can get distracted."

Her hard work paid off, and today she receives her diploma.

She will likely find work right away in nursing but plans to pursue a four-year degree.

"This degree has opened a lot of doors or at least made the steps higher so I can reach the doors I couldn't before."

sbartlett@pressrepublican.com