FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- Jazmyn Michel was one of more than 440 graduates to receive her diploma from White Knoll High School in Lexington, Saturday at the Carolina Coliseum. She was the only one to receive a surprise from her mother, Master Sgt. Gillian Michel, who flew all the way from Afghanistan to be there for her graduation.
Jazmyn had no idea the staff and all of her teachers were aware her mother was going to surprise her. As she walked across the stage to receive her diploma, the announcer informed the audience that Jazmyn was aware that her mother might be unable to attend her graduation, but abruptly added that the Army was able to bring her mother home in time.
As her mother came to greet her on stage, Jazmyn began to cry and quickly went to her with open arms.
"She has been talking about how she is not going to be here and she is here," Jazmyn said.
Michel, assigned to the 1st Infantry Division of Fort Riley, Kan., deployed to Afghanistan in January with the understanding that she might not be able to attend her only daughter's graduation. Michel thanked her command for pulling together and allowing her to be there instead.
"I have missed a lot of my daughter's life being in the Army as a single parent over the last 18 years," Michel said. "So I was overjoyed and ecstatic to be here for this moment that will never (happen) again."
Jazmyn said she was excited to share this moment with her mother who she never thought would be able to make it because of her year-long deployment to Afghanistan.
"You really can't put it into words. It's like such joy, there are no words for it, it's just one of those feelings," Jazmyn said.
Michel, who was back in the U.S. for one week before the graduation, said it was very difficult to keep it a secret, knowing her daughter was so close to her at any given moment of the day.
"Oh, it was impossible! I had to change statuses on my Facebook, type in that I was still in Bagram," Michel said. "It was extremely difficult. I actually got depressed and aggravated a few times knowing she was right here and I could not see her.
"She is my everything. It's been me and her her entire life, and being a single parent her whole life. So it's just been me and her; and she is just my world," Michel said.
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