Grace Szymchack, 24, was set to graduate from Ferris State University on December 15th and was scheduled to give birth to her baby via C-section on December 18th, but as most mothers know, babies don't always arrive on time. “The doctor made it sound like she didn't think I was going to make it to the 18th so we were just hoping that she'd come either early enough that I could still walk right after graduation,” Szymchack told “GMA3.” For Szymchack, her baby decided to arrive early. “Annabelle decided to come early on December 6,” Szymchack said, according to a news release from the university. “It was just important for me to walk because I've been working on this degree for a long time,” Szymchack explained. “And with lots of support from my husband and family, I was just determined to actually walk and I just wasn't ready to leave [Annabelle] with anyone yet.”

The 24-year-old graduated Magna Cum Laude along with 400 other students with her 10-day-old daughter cradled in her arms and tucked into her graduation gown. Baby Annabelle appeared to be calm and cozy as Szymchack recieved her degree. “She was really chill. She slept the whole time. No fussing or anything,” she said.

Annabelle is Szymchack's second child. She welcomed baby Isabelle in 2022 with her husband Caleb. While earning her degree, Szymchack was also working as an educator along with navigating motherhood and marriage. According to the release, Szymchack, who has an associates degree in early childhood development from Northwestern Michigan College, says that she always planned on teaching. She currently teaches full-time at a public preschool for 3-year-old. “I love working with the littles the best,” Szymchack said. “I feel like I can really make an impact there.”