Single mother of five graduates from law school

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - We have all heard the saying, “A picture says a thousand words,” but in the case of Ieshia Champs, the photo of her smiling with her five children has inspired thousands of people throughout the U.S.!

Champs, a single mother to five children, received her Mother’s Day present two days early -- she graduated with honors from law school.

“I sat in the bed this morning and cried, I really cried because I said, 'Lord, I cannot believe this," described Champs about completing her education at Thurgood Marshall School of
Law from Texas Southern University. "From foster care to a high school dropout to jurist doctorate. I cannot believe it. The hardest part has been trying to maintain grades, maintain the information and then maintain trying to be a mother to my children.”

It has been a whirlwind of blessings since the photo was snapped and shared. Champs tells FOX 26 News the picture almost didn’t happen.

“I didn’t even want to participate in the photos, I was just that tired, I was like I wanted to sleep and my pastor at church said, 'No, you need to take them. It will give you the energy that you needed.'”

On top of the photo gaining national attention, Champs was thrust into the spotlight on the "Steve Harvey" show. Harvey gave her a life-changing graduation present -- a trip to Jamaica for her family and $10,000.

Battling the odds as a single mother to five children and going back to school, Champs thanks her family, her church and God for what she calls her greatest accomplishment. After receiving thousands of messages, she now serves as an inspiration for others to go back to school.

“Never give up, do not give up," added Champs. "The only thing that you can do is fall, all you have to do is get back up, and what God did for me he can do for anyone of them.“

Champs is not quite done with the books just yet. She’ll spend the next two months studying for the bar exam.