Material gifts can make a child happy for a moment, but education is a present that will leave a child rich for eternity.
For 62-year-old Fred Vautour, working for the Boston College as a night shift custodian at the Robsham Theatre at Boston College is more than just a job. The school is one of the most prestigious private universities in the country and it was also an opportunity to give his children the gift of education and a better future, despite their financial struggles.
Fred has cleaned the grounds of the school for the past 15 years, working hard as he swept and vacuumed its floors and surfaces. Yes, it wasn’t exactly a high-paying job, but he was determined to do his best at his work.
It may look like being a janitor is not something that could make a person rich. But, Fred may just have discovered a gold mine because this job was his ticket to his children’s bright future.
You see, in Boston College, there is a program wherein employees can have their children attend the school without paying anything. But, of course, that is if they get accepted which is definitely not easy.
Fortunately, Fred’s children are industrious and smart students and they were able to get their acceptance letters and made their father proud. One by one, his kids got accepted in the prestigious university, which left Fred even more determined to do his best in his job.
It all started in 1998 when his oldest daughter Amy got her acceptance letter from Boston College. From then on, his other children namely John, Michael, Thomas, and Alicia got their acceptance letters when it was time for them to go to college.
The Vautour children’s acceptance letters were framed and hung on their house walls. The Vautours’ house is filled with these framed mementos and Fred proudly shares that he was the one who is behind it, as he is proud of his children’s achievements. In 2016, his youngest daughter, Alicia, graduated with a degree in Nursing and finally, Fred’s mission to send all of his kids in college was finally complete.
“It kind of gives you the tingles,” Vautour told Boston Globe. “We became a big BC alumni family.”
Fred knew that his salary of $60,000 a year will never be enough to send five children to college, which is why he is thankful that his employment in the university has made this feat achievable for someone like him.
He, himself, has not gone to college because he always knew that he was meant for hard work. But, he wanted it to be different for his children.
The fact that his employment serves as a ticket for his children to go to college and finish their degrees kept him going for the past years. He was determined to give them the gift of education and that’s why he was willing to endure many nights and years of hard work.
During their college years, Fred’s children stayed on campus and occasionally visited him in the theatre. They were not embarrassed about their father’s job at the university. They were even proud to show him off as their father and would tell their friends that if not for their father being an employee in the university, they will not be around to pursue their dreams in college.
Now that Fred’s kids have finally completed their degrees, Fred could not be happier and content. However, if he was to be asked, he certainly most enjoyed the journey that he has taken while working hard for his children’s education. It was a very colorful and memorable experience and he definitely will treasure the moments when all of his efforts are being returned by his kids in the way he expected and more.
Fred’s dedication and determination is definitely an inspiring story that all fathers could learn from. He is a man who did not stop until his dreams for his children were realized.
His children were also admirable as they did not waste the opportunity that their father has worked hard for them to have. Truly, this family of Boston College alumni is a great source of encouragement and inspiration that will remain a classic Boston College success story for years to come.
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