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Studying is timeless: Here in the lecture hall in Heidelberg
Photo: Uwe Anspach / dpa
90-year-old American Joyce DeFauw is graduating 71 years after starting her studies.
In 1951 she had enrolled at Northern Illinois University to major in home economics.
Then she met her future husband – and her plans changed.
"I went to school for three and a half years but decided to drop out after meeting him," she told CNN.
Today, DeFauw has 17 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
In 2019 she showed renewed interest in the interrupted studies.
"I did mention that I was upset that I didn't finish college and my kids encouraged me to go back," she said.
So she re-enrolled at university and took courses.
Jenna Dooley, one of DeFauw's 17 grandchildren and a Northern Illinois University alumnus, told CNN that when her grandmother decided to go back, it was more about "why not" than "why."
"When we called the school about an earlier enrollment, they were shocked to hear we were asking about a student from the 1950s," Dooley says.
However, DeFauw did not take the courses on campus, but on the computer.
“That was my first computer,” says the 90-year-old, “my children had to teach me how to use it.” After three years of study, she now has her degree in her pocket.
DeFauw is grateful she had this opportunity.
"It's nice to finish something you started," she says.
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