KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Many people spent the weekend at college commencement ceremonies celebrating years of hard work that finally paid off, but for one East Tennessee couple, graduating is an entirely different level of accomplishment.

Ruth Ann Wassenaar's day job is being a mom and teaching piano lessons, all while her husband Brady is hard at work at a software company.

But for two years, both have had the same evening job as full time students at Pellissippi State.

Brady says, "Generally, we would put the boys to bed by 8:30, and school time was 8:30 until 10:30, or sometimes 1:00 a.m., and we would fit a few hours in on Saturday and Sunday."

Both wanted to continue their education, and get associates degrees in information technology, so they looked online and found online courses available at Pellissippi State.

With a little hesitation, they both signed up full time.

Ruth Ann says, "It was pretty crazy. We thought is this really something we want to do?"

Despite how hectic things became, Brady says, "One semester we took a full load. It was pretty daunting, and about everyday we were asking ourselves what in the world are we doing?"

The Wassenaars not only successfully completed the program, they did so with perfection. They both graduated with a 4.0 grade point average.

Ruth Ann says, "It was hard work, but it was worth it. There is an accomplishment and a sense of pride in being able to do that."

Balancing being married, parents of two young children, and going to college wasn't easy. But it's something they want to serve as an example to their children and as encouragement to anyone that says they're too old, too busy, or that it's just too late to go back to school.

Ruth Ann says, "If there is something on your heart that you feel like this is what you need to do I would encourage anyone that is thinking about it to go for it and have a dream and reach for it."