Violet Edwards became the fifth oldest person in the world to earn her college degree at 96, and she is also officially the oldest Black woman to graduate from college in the US.

Violet Edwards received her college degree on June 25, 2022, at the age of 96. Photo: Fox 10.
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The grandmother said she wanted to finish her journey toward obtaining her college degree ahead of her 100th birthday, although she kicked things off a few decades ago.

Due to financial setbacks, her road to furthering her education halted. However, she continued to press on and earned her Associate’s Degree in liberal arts, Fox 10 reported.

“It’s a sense of satisfaction, I feel good about it,” she said in a Zoom interview on Tuesday with FOX 35.

Edwards graduated from Mercy College in New York in June 2022 after attending online classes from her apartment in Parkland, Florida.

Making history

As a woman of many firsts, Edwards stems from Jamaica, where she became the first person in her village to attend high school on a full academic scholarship.

According to reports, she took her final exams before graduation during World War II and even was fearful that the test would not make it to England, where it was sent over for grading.

Since Edwards did not have the money to continue her education, she decided to pursue a career within the island’s postal service.

With a spirit destined for greatness, she became the first appointed female regional inspector before she decided to retire and head to New York in 1973.

Fulfilling Life’s Purpose

Once in the states, Edwards’ sole mission was to help put her daughter through medical school. This also inspired her to return to school.

Therefore, she decided to enrol in the College of New Rochelle in the early 1990s, where she earned some credits. When Rochelle became Mercy College, her credits transferred.

Another financial setback prevented Edwards from fulfilling her mission. However, she still persevered.

On top of the lack of financial resources, she soon discovered that the college she had attended was closed once she tried to re-enrol for a second time.

Unfortunately, 84 of her credits were non-transferable, yet she kept going.

Challenges during her study

Growing up, there was no internet, computers, or smartphones as there is today. So, online classes took some additional learning.

“Everything was on pad paper and pencil. I can’t say I’ve enjoyed it, but I’m going along with it,” she said, referring to adapting to online classes,” she said.

Thankfully, her daughter and son-in-law were there to help keep her connected and troubleshoot any issues.

“It was challenging…but I went through it. I wouldn’t give up,” she added.

Overcoming cancer

Last month, she defied the odds to achieve such a feat after being diagnosed with cancer just one year shy of her last year in college.

On July 5, she underwent surgery and completed her final radiation treatment; Local 10 reported

The community where she lives held a graduation ceremony for Violet in June. Photos show Edwards in her cap and gown, holding her degree.

She even received a proclamation from the Consulate General of Jamaica in Miami, Florida, commending her on the achievement.

And she’s not done yet. Edwards said she hopes to earn her Bachelor’s degree.

Her message for others:

“I would say it’s never too late. Don’t just forget that it’s never too late. Look at me how I started again, I restarted…and tried to move along and go towards my goal, and I did.”

Woman celebrates grandmother

In a similar story, TUKO.co.ke reported a woman posted about her granny who graduated with a Master’s degree in Business Administration at the age of 80.

The lady shared gogo’s graduation pic and concluded the cation with the words:

“Never give up on your dreams.”

Peeps on Twitter were split in opinion over granny’s achievement.

Some felt she wasted her time and money as she wouldn’t need the qualification, while others congratulated her as they thought her achievements were beautiful.

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Source: TUKO.co.ke