Virginia dreamed all her life of earning a master's degree. On Stanford University (USA) she managed to defend her bachelor's degree in pedagogy and even pass all the subjects in her master's studies in the same field. However, submitting the work turned out to be impossible.
The war interrupted his studies. “There were times when I regretted it”
In 1941, when United States joined the war, Virginia's fiancé was drafted into the army. The couple decided to get married and spent their honeymoon near a military unit. “I had no choice in the matter,” the woman told NBC News.
At that time, giving up an academic career to get married and start a family was seen as sacrifice for America. The woman got involved in supporting the army.
After the war, the couple moved to another state where they ran a ranch. Together they raised two children.
– There were times when I regretted not finishing my studies and getting a master's degree. Partly because I worked as a college principal for many years, so my formal education was different from that of colleagues in similar positions, the woman said.
She defended her master's degree after 83 years. “I've been waiting for this for a long time”
In recent years, her son-in-law contacted the university and discovered that despite the passage of several decades, Virginia still had a chance at Master's degreeif he submits and defends his thesis.
Last week, the formalities were completed and the now 105-year-old woman received her dream master's degree, 83 years after interrupting her studies. She was accompanied by her children and grandchildren during the ceremony.
– My God – she said, moved. – I've been waiting for this for a long time.
Stanford University in 2023, it took second place in the Academic Ranking of World Universities.
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