Never give up on learning something

An 87-year-old woman just graduated from the University of Alabama.

She apparently started school at Alabama in 1947, but she ended up never finishing her degree. Instead, she moved, worked for the military and started her family.

According to an article from KLEWtv.com, she actually had enough credits to get her degree without realizing it. This article states that this woman, Patricia Cassity, received a standing ovation when she walked across the stage to receive her diploma.

She returned to finish something she started, to learn more.

Earlier, in 2007, a 95-year-old woman graduated from a university in Kansas. She studied for 30 years before receiving her diploma in history.

It’s the time for graduation, both for college and high school. Some individuals may be going into the workforce, and some individuals may be going on to the next level of their education.

These kinds of stories of continuing to learn and pursuing dreams should inspire you.

For me, hearing these kinds of stories makes me realize that you don’t have to obtain milestones at certain ages or times in your life. You could go to school and graduate when you are young or older.

These stories also tell me that learning should never end.

I like to think of myself as a life learner. I went to school, and I studied what I needed to in order to make it in the world today.

It only took me five years to graduate with my undergraduate degree, and about a year and a half to get my master’s. Both times, it seemed like it was taking forever to finish my education, at least until I read the story of the 87-year-old and 95-year-old graduate.

I’m out of school now, but that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped learning. I always try to learn something new.

The knowledge I gain isn’t always academic. I’m learning things that are important, like maintaining a schedule to pay bills or cooking food instead of eating out.

I’m not perfect in everything that I do, and I’m learning how to recognize that as well.

Essentially, I’m learning how to be a (mostly) functioning adult daily.

I learn these things from personal experiences, especially when I’ve learned that I’ve done something wrong. I’m thankful that I am also surrounded by others who are willing to share the wisdom they have learned about life.

I may not be learning about Shakespeare or physics, but I am learning, which is the point.

For children, learning is a requirement. They need to be in school and learn. For adults, learning is whatever you want it to be. You can learn whatever you want to learn at any given moment.

The world is changing. New information is constantly being spit out to the masses, and history is being made every day.

Like the two women I told you about who never stopped learning, I challenge you to do the same.

Even if you never use your knowledge for anything life-changing, you may have changed your life learning it.

Cassie Gibbs is a staff writer for The Southeast Sun and Daleville Sun-Courier. The opinions of this writer are her own and not the opinion of the paper. She can be reached at (334) 393-2969 or by email at [email protected].