Age Is Nothing More Than a Number
Age is truly nothing more than a number when it comes to achieving your goals in life. Some of the world’s most respected figures didn’t achieve their dreams till much later in life.
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Colonel Sanders, the man who founded KFC, didn’t start his business until he was 40 and only became a millionaire at 65. Toni Morrison received her Nobel Prize in Literature at 62, and Samuel L. Jackson only received his first award-winning role at age 43.
Black Woman Proves Age Isn’t Always Relevant
An older black woman from the state of Virginia is taking the statement “age is just a number” to new heights after earning her college degree at the age of 102 years old.
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Sarah Simpkins has accomplished one of her lifelong dreams after graduating from Brightpoint Community College’s Early Childhood Education program in Chester, Virginia.
Elderly Woman Thanks God
Speaking with the local news outlet WLBT3, the elderly college graduate shared her excitement with the world, citing her gratitude to God, who she claims gave her the strength to achieve her lifelong goal.
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“I feel very wild,” Ms. Simpkins said. “I feel very grateful to God for letting me do whatever I do. Thank you, God.”
102-Year-Old Graduate Celebrates With Granddaughter
As the 102-year-old woman took to the stage to collect her college degree, she was accompanied by her proud granddaughter, Halimah Shepherd-Crawford.
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“I can’t even express my emotions right now,” Halimah told WLBT. “It was all an idea, and we’re here now. And I’m just so excited for my grandmother that she accomplished what she wanted.”
Why Did Mrs. Simpkins Return to School?
When Mrs. Simpkins was in her early 20s, she initially attended Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina. Unfortunately, she was forced to drop out.
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According to the 102-year-old graduate, she got pregnant when she was just 20 years old and decided to drop out of college to raise her child.
Mrs. Simpkins Always Planned to Go Back to School
Mrs. Simpkins admitted she planned to return to college in her early life. However, she went on to have 12 children, and raising them took up a significant amount of her time.
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Regardless, she never gave up on her long-term goal of finally going back to college to finish her degree, and at the ripe age of 102 years old, she became one of the oldest Americans to ever graduate.
Never Give Up on Your Dream
Luckily, Mrs. Simpkins always desired to return one day and never gave up on her dream. Now, she serves as a delightful reminder that age is nothing more than a minor obstacle.
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“It’s something that I had to do,” Simpkins said. “I’m very, very grateful that God has enabled me to do this.”
100-Year-Old Veteran Receives College Degree
Mrs. Simpkins is one of the few Americans who managed to earn a college education after living for more than a century. Another is Jack Milton, a Veteran who missed out on his college graduation due to deployment.
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Milton served in World War 2, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
The Beginning of Milton's Military Career
Milton joined the US Army Air Corps right at its inception in 1946. Unfortunately, this resulted in him missing his college graduation ceremony and the party that followed.
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Speaking on the event with WTOP News, Milton said, “My only disappointment was that I didn’t get to attend my own graduation ceremony. On that day, I was on my way to Southeast Asia for my own Vietnam tour.”
Milton Finally Receives His College Degree
Almost seven decades after he was initially supposed to graduate, the University of Maryland Global Campus held a graduation ceremony for the veteran at their Adelphi, Maryland, campus headquarters.
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“Congratulations to you, Mr. Milton, you are a lion among men. You have truly demonstrated selfless service to your country, to UMGC, and to your family, and for that, we are all honored to know you and to stand here to recognize all that you have contributed and continue to do on behalf of military students at UMGC,” said Nicole DeRamus, the associate vice president of UMGC’s Stateside Military Operations.
President Issues Degree to Veteran
Back when Milton was initially studying for his Bachelor of Arts degree in a study program at the Pentagon, the college was called the University of Maryland, University College.
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“I hereby confer upon John L. Milton the degree of Bachelor of Arts with all the rights and privileges thereto appertaining,” said Dr. Gregory Folwer, president of the UMGC.