Graduating College at 63: My Journey Back to the Classroom
I’ve been waiting a long time to say this: yesterday afternoon, I finished my last exam, typed my final essay, and turned it in.
On May 8, 2021, at 9 a.m., after 43 years, I will officially graduate from UNCW with a 3.8 GPA and cum laude honors.
Returning to School
I first left college in 1977 to start a career with Lowe’s. For years, when people asked how far I had gone in school, I would quietly say, “A year and a half of college.” It always bothered me. That unfinished chapter lingered in the back of my mind.
So, in 2017, I made the decision to return. I registered at UNCW and took my first class during the summer session. Almost immediately, I realized how out of place I felt. At my age, I didn’t fit the typical student mold, and the stares and whispers made me more self-conscious than I ever expected.
I had to find a way to belong. One Sunday afternoon that summer, I knocked on the door of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, where my son Hunter was a brother. I told them I wanted to pledge—not for status, not for accolades—but simply to fit in.
They didn’t know what to make of me. The fraternity president, Liam Walsh, explained that I could join as a Legacy because of Hunter. I stood before the chapter and said, “I may come in as a Legacy, but when I leave, I will be a Legend.” Every day since, I’ve tried to live up to that promise.
Working Hard to Graduate
I switched my major from environmental sciences to business, essentially starting over. Balancing school with life wasn’t easy. I worked 40–60 hours a week, traveling an average of 900 miles weekly. Late nights were spent in motel lobbies, truck stops, and even McDonald’s parking lots, reading, writing papers, and attending online classes.
Some classes were in-person, some virtual, and I often studied on interstates and off-ramps, laptop in hand. It was a grueling climb, like scaling Mount Everest, and there were days I wasn’t sure I’d make it. But with the unwavering support of Charlie, my family, and friends, I’ve reached the summit. I love all of you deeply.
A Message to Friends and Family
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: never start anything you do not finish. Face the moments that make you uneasy, hold your head high, and push through fear and doubt. And when life feels impossibly steep and the air grows thin, know that countless silent prayers and well-wishes surround you, giving the strength to take that next step.
This journey has been long, humbling, and extraordinary. Today, I stand proud, not just for the degree, but for the perseverance, growth, and love that carried me here.
