Former teen mom defies ‘stigma’ to graduate with daughter from Eastern WA college
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- Kennewick mother and daughter both earn degrees from CBC in 2025
- Torres returns to college after decade-long pause, inspired by her children
- Amrielle finishes high school and earns associate degree through Running Start
Racquel Torres has always instilled in her children a “be better, do better” mindset.
That’s because at 17, with the world against her, she became a mother.
But against all odds, Torres graduated high school, started her own career and — nearly two decades after taking her first class at Columbia Basin College — is about to graduate with her bachelor’s degree in applied management.
When Torres, now 35, receives her degree on Friday, June 13, she won’t be alone. Her 18-year-old daughter, Amrielle Ortiz, will be by her side.
She took her mother’s words to heart and enrolled in Running Start to earn college credit while in high school. This month, the budding entrepreneur will graduate with both her diploma from Kamiakin High School and associate degree from CBC.
“She paved the way and I’m just walking through it,” Amrielle told the Tri-City Herald.
The story of the mother-daughter duo is one of grit, tenacity and determination. But it’s also a reminder that the most rewarding outcomes are rarely ever earned easy and it’s never too late — or too early — to start on those dreams.
Amrielle plans to pursue the same business-focused bachelor’s degree her mother is earning and hopes one day to open her own dessert shop. She owns her own business, So Berry Bliss, that originated from her love of making sweet treats for her parents.
Torres will use her degree to further her career at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, where she works in accounts receivable.
“I think it feels surreal,” Amrielle said with a smile. “And I’m just very proud of us, of how far we’ve gone and just for my mom to take 10 years off (to) raise me and my brother, and coming back and just getting it done.”
Torres said she was unsure for a while if they would end up walking at the same ceremony because of her credits, but she “manifested it.”
Torres says it’s a very proud moment for their whole family.
“It’s just amazing. Honestly, I’m so blessed. I’m so proud of Amrielle for just defeating all the odds along with me,” she said.
“I don’t think I realized it until this year that we would graduate the same quarter,” Amrielle said.
“But that was my ultimate goal, and I don’t know how she would have felt about it,” Torres said.
“I think it’s cool,” said her daughter. “I think it’s definitely, like, a core memory. It’ll definitely be memorable to look back at.”
More than a teen mom
Torres and Amrielle will be part of a record-breaking CBC graduation class. More than 1,600 students have applied to graduate, the largest number ever to date.
“We are excited to see continued growth in enrollment and graduation rates. CBC works closely with industry partners and our advisory committees to ensure that our programs meet local workforce needs,” said Elizabeth Burtner, CBC’s assistant vice president for marketing and outreach.
They’re not the first mother-daughter duo to walk together at CBC graduation. Last year, the Herald highlighted a Kennewick family who earned their associate degrees at the same time.
Torres graduated from Kennewick High School in 2008 after taking several months off to start a family.
She says she was adamant about fighting stereotypes that came with being a young mom and wanted to set a strong foundation for their family.
Little baby Amrielle would be the spur.
“It was a shock to my family, but to me, I saw her as a motivation to do better, be better. So, I finished high school,” Torres said.
“That was a huge accomplishment. I felt like everyone doubted me. I didn’t want to be the stigma of being just a teen mom, and that’s what I was always going to be,” she said.
She enrolled in CBC almost immediately with the intent to get her nursing prerequisites done.
But she learned shortly after that she doesn’t do well with blood, and she became pregnant shortly after with her second child, Noah.
“I took time, I worked full-time jobs as they grew up,” she said.
She worked at various retail outlets and dental offices before landing a coveted position at PNNL in 2017, also a “shocker” for her family.
“It was on a whim and they took on me,” she said. “That was a huge accomplishment in my eyes and, I think, everyone’s eyes.”
Amy Gadd, her former business manager at PNNL, inspired Torres to go back to school and their family told Amrielle about Running Start.
“I always tell her, ‘Amy, you’re a pusher,’” Torres said. “And it’s not like she was trying to benefit off of me or anything. She saw the potential in both of us. She knew Amrielle, too.”
‘Always there for each other’
Torres said she felt she needed to lead by example when telling her three children to pursue higher education. That’s when she thought about going back to school to finish her associate degree.
She dipped her toes into the waters at CBC again in 2019, taking a few classes at first to see how they jelled with her work and home life. That was also the year the family of five — plus dog — moved from a cramped 1,100-square-foot townhouse to their own house.
“It was a big adjustment, but that was something we always wanted for the kids,” Torres said.
She graduated with her associate degree in 2023, and months later Amrielle began taking classes at the college.
She thanks her husband of 20 years, Jose Ortiz, for sticking by her and supporting the family through manic study sessions and finals weeks.
“He’s so proud of us,” Torres said. “Seeing us set goals and seeing us accomplish them, he’s so supportive, especially on those days when we’re hammering homework... He’s been such a huge support in my life and all our lives.”
Torres and Amrielle say they bond over good food, long one-on-one talks and discussions about their life goals.
“If we’re going through something, we’re always there for each other,” Amrielle said.
Words of encouragement
The two graduates had a few words of encouragement for others.
Amrielle says it’s important to “protect your peace.”
“Just finding a goal, staying driven to it and being consistent to that goal — I feel like you’ll achieve anything you want or desire,” she said.
“Just be positive. I feel like there’s so much negativity. Why spread more when you could just be nice and stay driven toward your goals?” Amrielle continued. “Just focus on you and your loved ones.”
To teen moms, Torres says don’t let it define you.
“Embrace it and achieve all your goals,” Torres said. “This is ultimately why I wanted to do this interview, to show it’s possible. Because back then every teen mom I knew dropped out, and they never went back to school or didn’t think they were enough to be better.”
This story was originally published June 12, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
