Once you meet Tammy Rineholt and Julia Franks, who are not only mother and daughter but also enrolled freshmen, you will certainly not forget these two whom you would swear were destined for reality television stardom.
This duo from Franklin, LA has the humor and witty prowess that could put Roseanne and Darlene Connor to shame. They have the personality that could animate a National Public Radio broadcast. When describing her daughter, Rineholt compared Franks to, “Larriette, the Cable Gal.”
Rineholt is a math education major who is 45 years old. Recently, Rineholt made a discovery in the world of algebra that she had never understood before.
“Algebra is so difficult to deal with because you are always dealing with an ‘(e)x,'” Rineholt said as she burst into laughter. Shortly after, Franks mentioned she dislikes math because “Math always wants you to solve its problems.”
Franks is 22 and is also in the field of education; however, she is focusing on the field English. Both agree that their desire to teach stemmed from their experience teaching Catechism to Catholic Confirmation candidates.
They also share a love for the arts; Rineholt is a singer and a self-proclaimed published songwriter. Before she was married, she ventured to Nashville to scope out the music industry. However, her upcoming nuptials thwarted her career before it ever officially started.
Franks is also musically inclined, playing an array of instruments: the guitar, drums, flute, clarinet and according to her mother,  she also plays the radio “very well.” Franks has a passion for theatre and after years of acting experience, she performed in her high school’s modernized version of Romeo and Juliet. She claims to be a very outgoing person, which is very believable after meeting her.
“I am a very outgoing person,” Franks said. “You know how everyone has their own little bubble? Well I am the type of person to be like, ‘Poke, how are you doing?'”
Due to a number of circumstances, this non-traditional pair has enrolled at Nicholls. As most students would agree, one major factor that led to their choosing of Nicholls was the cost.
As Rineholt said, she has already received what feels like a college education.
“I took Housewife 101, which covers biology, chemistry and even Maternity 101,” Rineholt said. “There were also some chapters on housekeeping, culinary and management. So already I feel very educated.”
Franks has spent the past couple of years at Young’s Memorial Community College, where she received a certification in typing. However, due to all their previous education, they have decided to study in order to receive a teaching degree thus, proving the saying, “the apple does not fall far from the tree.”
The most important of all factors on their presence at Nicholls would be the departure of Rineholt’s husband of 23 years, the father of Franks. He left the family in March of this year, and though the transition has been difficult, both Rineholt and Franks understand the adversity to be a blessing.
“One thing we have tried to remember is that you are not supposed to hide your light under a bushel, and he was a bushel that was hiding our light,” said Rineholt. “Even if we fail and fall on our faces, at least we got to try. There is nothing else I could have done for him that I have not already done, so now I get to focus on myself and my daughter.”
This newfound sense of freedom has come at a perfect time, allowing them to immerse themselves in the college life, which is something that would have never been possible in their old lifestyle. On a smaller, but more enjoyable note, this liberation has allowed them to pursue their love of music at local karaoke halls around the area.
“We are trying to do it the way the Judds did it, but unfortunately we are not as good as them,” Rineholt said. This statement Franks disagreed facetiously, saying “I will let you know that I can go toe-to-toe with Winona, and I will whip her any day.”
Off the stage, they have blossomed socially and met new friends.
“We have met a lot of people and new friends have been easy to come by during our brief time here,” Rineholt said.
Of all the people they have met, they still consider their relationship with each other to be the most important.
“We unintentionally scheduled our first class together,” Franks said. “We woke on the first morning of school and I asked my mother what class she was going to. She responded with biology, and I said ‘me too!'”  
Aside from being her classmate and roommate, the duo shares a dorm in Calecas Hall, Franks plays two much larger roles in Rineholt’s life.
“She is my rock,” Rineholt said. “Also, due to my poor vision, she is my seeing-eye child.”
Franks is always the designated driver because of her mother’s disability.
Rineholt, a former high school valedictorian, receives accommodations from Disability Services that help make her education possible.
“When I first came here, I was worried how it would be with my vision because I can still read, but I need the text magnified in order to see it,” Rineholt said
Refusing to allow Rineholt’s vision to inhibit her progress, as well as other areas of adversity in thier life, this faithful pair attributes their personal and academic growth to their Catholic ackground.
“We are cradle Catholics,” Franks said. “Our faith has essentially grabbed us by the hand and pulled us in the direction it intended for us to go in.”
“I will tell you the one main reason we are here–Jesus Christ,” Rineholt said. “He gives us all of our gifts, and we are grateful for each and every one of those. The Bible says to love God first because human beings let you down, so Jesus is the reason I am not devastated. In fact, the other day I told a friend of mine that the beauty of being Catholic is you can dance, drink, and do a lot of other things, but you just cannot have too much fun doing it.”
With their faith, determination, and most importantly, each other, this mother and daughter combination will take Nicholls by storm. Whether you see them singing on campus, performing on the stage, or frivolously arguing with one another on the sidewalk outside of their dorm, they will be living life to the fullest, side by side.