She Was in Labor During Her College Exam — Then Her Professor Made an Astonishing Decision

In a moment that has inspired thousands around the world, a Georgia college student took multitasking to a heroic level — choosing to complete a final exam while in active labor. The professor’s response? A decision rooted in compassion that helped make a powerful dream come true.

On November 12, 2015, 21-year-old Tommitrise Collins was admitted to Coliseum Medical Center in Macon, Georgia, after experiencing labor contractions. But rather than panic, Collins stayed focused on something she believed was just as important: finishing her psychology exam for Middle Georgia State University.

Her due date had unexpectedly collided with the day of her final, and the young criminal justice major was determined not to fall behind — even if it meant taking the test between contractions.

“I was like, before the contractions get worse, let me take this test,” she told local news outlets at the time. “I’m used to multitasking and juggling things. This was just another test of that.”

And multitask she did.

With her laptop propped on a hospital tray, Collins completed the two-hour exam in just 90 minutes — pausing periodically to breathe through the contractions that grew more intense as the minutes passed.

As her sister, Shanell Brinkley-Chapman, watched in disbelief, she snapped a photo of Collins, focused and undeterred, hunched over the keyboard in her hospital bed. She posted the image on Facebook with the caption:

“This is what you call ‘Strong Motivation’… Contractions 3 minutes apart and still taking her Psychology test!”

The photo went viral almost instantly, racking up tens of thousands of shares and sparking praise for Collins’s determination and grit.

But behind this moment of triumph was a professor who played an unexpectedly vital role in making it possible. According to Collins, she had emailed her professor days earlier, explaining the situation and asking if she could still take the exam from the hospital.

Rather than impose a rigid deadline or request a delay, the professor gave Collins the go-ahead and arranged for her to access the exam remotely — trusting her to complete it honestly and on time.

“It was the kind of support you don’t forget,” Collins said. “He didn’t make me feel like I was asking for special treatment — just like a student trying to do her best.”

The professor’s decision didn’t just help Collins stay on track academically; it showed how empathy in education can empower students to rise to extraordinary challenges.

Shortly after submitting her exam, Collins gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Tyler Elise. The new mom, still in her hospital gown, was smiling by her baby’s side just hours after clicking “submit.”

Though she hadn’t yet received her grade at the time, Collins said she felt proud simply for finishing.

“I didn’t want to wait and take it later,” she said. “It’s all about finishing what you started.”

Collins later passed the exam and continued her degree in criminal justice, with aspirations of joining the FBI or working in juvenile corrections — a dream fueled by her desire to build a better life for her daughter.

Nearly a decade later, the story of Tommitrise Collins still resonates as a symbol of dedication, motherhood, and the often unseen hurdles faced by student-parents.

Her courage, and her professor’s understanding, remain a powerful example of how academic institutions can rise to meet the humanity of their students.

Educators and students alike continue to cite her story when talking about flexibility in the classroom, especially in the growing conversation around supporting young parents in higher education.

Looking back, Collins has one message for those facing impossible odds:

“You can find excuses, or you can find your strength,” she said. “I found mine in a hospital bed — with a laptop, a contraction monitor, and a dream.”