By Mollie Beth Wallace

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — As the parents of six children, Eric and Tracy Smith of Natchez lead a busy life.

Eric teaches fourth grade at McLaurin Elementary School, and Tracy is employed by Open Air MRI. But despite a full-time family and full-time jobs, the couple walked alongside each other in May as graduates of Alcorn State University.

“I couldn’t wait for them to call (Tracy’s) name,” Eric said. “I was very excited.”

Tracy, who finished in the fall of 2011, said she was just glad it was over.

The couple was excited to finally don their caps and gowns, but pride for themselves paled in comparison to their pride of their daughter, Jordan Wright, who graduated from Natchez High School

“When they called her name, it was like a running back had just scored a touchdown,” Eric said. “The whole section just erupted.”

Tracy, who received her Bachelors of Arts in general studies, said that the trio did not plan the simultaneous commencement.

“I didn’t realize we were all graduating at the same time until a parents’ meeting for Jordan,” she said.

Tracy graduated from North Natchez High School, but after that she never completed her degree.

“(Going back) was long overdue for me,” she said.

“At first I didn’t want to be in class with a bunch of 18-year-olds,” Tracy said. “I was beat down, ready to give up again, but he (Eric) wouldn’t let me.

“I started back in 2007, and I did pretty good until I got pregnant with Ryan. Eric kept encouraging me to go on and finish.”

During her collegiate career, Tracy had her two youngest children, Ryan, who is 3, and London, who is 2.

She said she did take time off for each son’s arrival, but went right back to school with her eye on the finish line.

“I know it has to be done so I might as well get myself in gear and do it,” she said.

Eric Smith, a graduate of Natchez High School, attended Alcorn as an undergraduate and received a bachelors of science in industrial technology. He then went back to school and received a master’s degree in workforce leadership.

Eric was employed by the City of Natchez as public works director until 2009 when the city downsized and his position was eliminated, he said.

For the past year, Eric taught fourth-grade math, science and social studies at McLaurin Elementary School.

Eric said he wanted to go back for his second master’s degree because he aspires to be a principal.

“I’ve always considered myself as a leader,” he said. “And to be an effective leader, I feel that one must be educated so that’s what motivated me.”

Eric said he tries to instill the importance of education in his children, too.

“I just urge all high school graduates to have a plan when they finish for which way they want to go,” he said.

Jordan, 17, said she will attend Alcorn this fall and plans to major in mass communication.

“I think it’s funny we all graduated at the same time,” she said. “But I’m nervous because I’m not going to have them around me (this fall).”

Tracy said she wants Jordan to be focused when she arrives on campus.

“I want her to enter Alcorn with a plan and go after that plan as if it was all she had,” she said. “I want her to finish on time.”

Eric said he is not worried about Jordan’s performance at Alcorn, because he’s prepared her well.

“She already knows the standards are high since I’m in the education field,” he said.

Eric said that his secret to success is time management.

“I try to keep them on a nightly schedule,” he said. “In order to be successful you have to be good at time management.”

Tracy, on the other hand, joked that Eric’s schedule is often unrealistic.

“He’s more punctual than I am,” she said. “I get overworked and stressed, and he’s just a clown.”

Jordan said this dynamic is what she will miss the most when she moves into her dorm.

“There’s never a dull moment (around them),” she said.

Eric said he tries his best to encourage his wife to push herself.

“She gets a little dinner or something for an A,” he said, smiling.

His encouragement must be working, because the couple said Jordan is not the only one who will be starting school in the fall.

“I’m going to enroll in the fall for the graduate program,” Tracy said. “I know I want to work with children. I don’t know if I want to explore the teaching realm or counseling.”

Eric said he has enrolled in Nova Southeastern University’s doctoral degree program to pursue a doctorate in educational leadership. Though Nova is located in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Eric said he will be able to work from Natchez between monthly trips to Florida.

The couple said that family is their most important concern, but they are proof that one can balance both aspects of life and prove successful.