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80-Year-Old Graduates From College With Honors Alongside Two Of Her Grandchildren

80-Year-Old Graduates From College With Honors Alongside Two Of Her Grandchildren
Kimberly Yam
By 

Asian-American Affairs Reporter, HuffPost

Students of all ages have a lot to learn from this determined octogenarian.

Rosa Salgado graduated this past weekend from Miami-Dade College in Florida with an associate of arts degree in education, according to CBS Miami. But Salgado isn't your typical college student -- she's 80 years old, and has received her diploma along with two of her grandchildren.

The 80-year-old hopes that her story will inspire others to see the importance of education.

“I would say to students, young, old or in the middle, that every day they have to fight to learn because learning is wonderful,” Salgado told the Miami Herald. “And I know there are a lot of things I still have to learn.”

The road to graduation was not an easy one.

Salgado enrolled at the school, first in an English program, the year after she immigrated to the United States from Colombia, according to the Herald. She worked at the school's childcare center while also attending classes to help support her family, NBC 6 reported. But when the center changed locations, the dedicated student took five bus routes to get to work and school. She met other challenges when her daughter was in an accident about 10 years ago, causing her to change her school schedule to part-time.

But Salgado stayed committed to school, and though she encountered these obstacles, she still ended up graduating with honors, according to NBC 6.

“She had some personal setbacks and she beat them all and she’s here graduating,” Sarah Bulnes, Salgado's English teacher, told the Herald. “I’m very proud of her.”

Salgado also received praise from her family.

"For me and my family, for her to take this one step graduating, it fills my heart," David Salgado, one of the 81-year-old's grandsons who graduated with her, told NBC 6.

The future is looking bright for the octogenarian, and now, with a fresh diploma, Salgado is thinking about a new career.

“I am going to think about creating poems about children because I like poems. I am going to illustrate some stories for children,” said Salgado, according to CBS Miami. “I love art and education and anything to do with children.”

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1
Go to one of the fancy balls
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If anything, just do it for the nice pictures.
2
Join a society and actually commit to it
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As a fresher you probably signed up to every single society your university had to offer and then totally copped out once they all got in touch. It's never too late! Look again and there's bound to be something you like. It's nice to be part of something, so pick one and at least try to stick with it.
3
Go all out on your fancy dress costume
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Fancy dress is a common occurrence and an absolute nuisance. Every single social or birthday means you have to waste precious cash on making hula skirts and rabbit ears. Of course it's not going to take very long before you get lazy and unimaginative, but just once really put the effort in and blow everyone away.
4
Do something selfless
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e.g. take part in a volunteer project or do something to raise money for charity.
5
Take part in pub golf
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There will be endless opportunities for you to do so and you can't beat a social with a bit of competition.
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Try a sport
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Otherwise, support the other sports folk
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Varsity is one of the highlights of the year. It's an incredible atmosphere and if you haven't been to cheer your uni teams on yet, don't even think about leaving without doing so.
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Show some interest in student politics
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Even if you won't be around for when the results take effect, it's still your uni and it doesn't hurt to engage a little.
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Make the most of your surroundings
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Throw a mad house party
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Just because you probably won't be able to do this when you move back in with mum and dad. Do it towards the end of the year though. It's a nice way to say goodbye to everyone and it doesn't matter so much if your neighbours despise you when you're leaving in a couple of weeks.
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