TAMPA, Fla. — This weekend, 5,000 University of South Florida students are set to graduate virtually.

The college experience in the past year has been anything but a predictable ride.

What You Need To Know

With many classes being held remotely and masks and social distance restrictions in place for in-person learning, students are facing more challenges today than ever to earn a diploma.

But at least one of the graduates this weekend will celebrate her milestone at just 19 years old.

"I've always kind of been the youngest," Jourdan Rapaport said.  "I had a late birthday so my parents went ahead and put me in first grade, so I've always kind of been younger."

Rapaport just got her high school diploma and associates degree from St. Petersburg College last year in 2019 at just 18 years old.

This weekend at 19, she graduates from USF with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Shamaria Engram is making graduation news as well.

She's the first black woman to graduate with a doctorates degree from USF's Computer Science and Engineering program.

We spoke with Engram on FaceTime where she had some advice for young women looking to get into engineering.

"I just say keep going, keep pushing, never give up," Engram said.  You may cross some struggles sometimes, but just know that the end goal, when you reach the end goal, it will all be worth it."

Perhaps one of the most unique graduates this semester is Vladmir Lut.

Born in Ukraine and trained at the world renowned Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, Lut was a professional dancer that traveled the world for two decades.

But a foot injury led to his early retirement.

Lut will graduate with a second nursing degree from USF, and there is no time than now that nurses are needed more.

"We are ready for anything.  We just, you can throw at us anything and we just say, no problem lets do it," Lut said.

USF's Winter 2020 graduation happens online for students and their families on Saturday.