A 96-year-old man in Italy is making headlines as he graduates from a University in Italy, making him the oldest to ever graduate.
Giuseppe Paterno has faced many challenges in life including “childhood poverty, war and, more recently, the coronavirus pandemic.”
The 96-year-old grew up in a poor family – that’s why he never had the chance to study. But he has always been fond of books. As a child, he received only basic schooling.
Photo | Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
Dream To Learn And Graduate
Giuseppe also joined the navy and served during World War II. And when he got married, he worked as a railway worker while raising two children.
He lived in a time that was focused on rebuilding after the war, so “work and family were the priorities.” However, one of Giuseppe’s dreams was to learn. So at age 31, he graduated from high school.
“Knowledge is like a suitcase that I carry with me, it is a treasure,” he said.
Photo | Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
And even when he reached 90 years old, he kept pursuing his dream. Giuseppe enrolled for a degree in History and Philosophy at the University of Palermo.
“I said, ‘that’s it, now or never,’ and so in 2017, I decided to enroll,” he told Reuters in an interview. “I understood that it was a little late to get a three-year degree but I said to myself ‘let’s see if I can do it’.”
Oldest To Graduate From A University In Italy
Today, indeed, the former railway worker graduated from university. While receiving his diploma in their graduation, family, teachers, and fellow students applauded him. What’s more, “he graduated first in his class with top honors.”
Photo | Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
When asked how it felt to graduate at his age, he said, “I am a normal person, like many others. In terms of age, I have surpassed all the others but I didn’t do it for this.”
Reference: ABC News
