She did it all while battling cancer!
A Florida woman graduated from college with a 4.0 GPA at the age of 96, Local 10 News reports.
Violet Edwards moved to the United States from Jamaica in 1973. During the early 80s, she attended the College of New Rochelle in New York, eventually leaving school early to work and help pay for her daughter’s medical school tuition.
The years went by and Edwards found joy working at her daughter’s medical practice and helping raise her grandchildren. Still, she always wanted to return to school to finish her degree eventually. About a year ago, Edwards learned that the College of New Rochelle had closed and all of her records were transferred to Mercy College in New York. That’s when she enrolled in online courses and decided to go back.
While ecstatic, returning came with its own set of challenges and on top of that, Edwards was battling breast cancer and had to undergo surgery. Last month, she finally graduated from Mercy with a 4.0 GPA at the age of 96. Last week, she received her final radiation treatment.
To celebrate her academic accomplishment, she was thrown a party at the retirement home in Parkland, Florida where she lives and the Jamaican Consulate General presented her with a proclamation.
Here’s to living proof that you’re never too old to follow your dreams! Congratulations, Ms. Edwards!
Photo Courtesy of Christine Edwards/Fox 35