94 year old graduates with Master’s degree
From the department of “It’s Never Too Late”:
A 94-year-old great-great-grandmother who left school at the age of 12 is possibly the world’s oldest recipient of a master’s degree
Phyllis Turner was awarded her master’s degree in medical science from the University of Adelaide in Australia, and, it’s possibly one for the Guinness Book of World Records:
At 70, she enrolled at the University of Adelaide and at 72, won a 12-month scholarship to study at the University of California.
After California, she enrolled at the Australian National University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology. She said she decided to pursue her masters degree when her husband died five years ago.
Turner said she felt she could achieve a Ph.D. but her family wanted her to take life easy.
”The only trouble is, I’m short of years,” she said.
Perhaps my goal of cleaning out my closet before I’m 45 isn’t too lofty, after all.
This story has kept a smile on my face for days. Apparently Phyllis didn’t get the memo that says at a certain age (say, 65 or so) you are supposed to disappear from the public arena and quietly await death.
Back in the 70’s, I went to law school with a guy who was 70 at graduation. He said, “I won’t have a long career, but I plan to have a little fun as a lawyer.”
Those of us (me included) who were about 30 at the time had no idea what he was talking about.
Now that I’m past 60, I begin to understand.
hi Elizabeth, would love to feature her on our website if she’s interested (we’re updating the home page to include Featured People within the next few days). Please let me know if this might be of something of interest? She founds fiesty & fascinating. -Kristen
Wow! That is inspiring! I am 46 and have been considering getting another master’s degree, this time from a more prestigious program. Now I have no excuse. That she would keep going is genuinely impressive. Many people over 50 just kind of give up but she kept her joie de vivre (hope I spelled that right!). I know many people over 70 who are just content to take their government check and do nothing but watch TV all day long.
Best regards,
GR