72-year-old completes undergraduate studies at Rhodes
You are never too old to accomplish your dreams!
When you enter your final years at school, you are under intense pressure to know what your future holds.
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Do you know what you want to study? What is your five-year plan?
Do you have your entire life's journey planned out?
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No one knows what might happen, and we often feel we must conform to certain societal norms.
You should be done studying, be married and have children at a certain age.
However, we should remember that everyone's journey and life path look different.
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Michael De Kock Willemse has proven that it is never too late for you to reach your goals.
Rhodes University recently announced that Michael is "breaking boundaries and redefining possibility" by graduating as part of the 2025 class.
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Not only does he now have a bachelor's degree in social science, but he also holds the honour of being the oldest undergraduate in the university's history.
I was dumbfounded. I never thought this would happen. I walked over and I basically started crying. A man in the audience gave me his handkerchief. I had one in my pocket, but I was so overcome with emotion he just offered me his brand new handkerchief and said, 'Have it. You deserve it.
In 1970, Michael matriculated from Bellville High School in Cape Town. However, his parents didn't have enough money to send him to university.
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He completed two years of compulsory military service and worked various jobs.
At 67, Michael realised he wasn't ready to retire, and he arrived at the university at the start of 2020.
We all know what happened in 2020 — the COVID pandemic.
Michael had a few setbacks during his first year, but nothing could stop him from doing what he had always dreamed of.
I thought about this and told myself, 'Well, are you crazy? You want to go back to university 50 years after writing matric?' And then after a few moments, I thought, 'Well, what have I got to lose?' All I can gain is a degree because I know I'm clever enough to do it. I know I'm hardworking enough to do it. So I couldn't lose anything.
Michael is a beautiful example to all of us.
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Main image courtesy of Dideka Njemla/Grocott's Mail