An 85-year-old lady carries She received a diploma after skipping high school because she couldn’t afford the tuition.
Shirley Smith, now 85, received an honorary graduate certificate after she was unable to pay her high school tuition in 1965 and thus missed out on high school.
With the assistance of a Georgia police chief, Shirley from Georgia eventually completed her high school education 67 years after it was scheduled to happen.
Shirley received the award for her commitment to her family and her consistent support of their education throughout the years, according to Eric Finch, chief of police for the Montezuma Police Department.
“Thank you. “I consider it a blessing and an honor,” she said to Fox News. Shirley recounted how she and her father, along with her six siblings, grew up on a tobacco farm in North Carolina.
Shirley claimed that she left high school in the tenth grade in order to make sacrifices for her other siblings. She claimed that she had made a grave error in making that choice.
The biggest mistake I think I made was telling him that I didn’t want to go to school when I was in the tenth grade. “Go to work,” she responded, in response to his words.
Then, in order to provide for her family, she began a career. She started out working at a dry cleaner’s shop before switching to a pocketbook factory. She eventually got married and had a family before relocating to Georgia.
Shirley stated that while she had considered going to trade school on multiple occasions, she decided to put her children’s needs and upbringing ahead of earning a degree.
However, she made it clear that if her children were going to live with her, they would get an education because it was a top priority in her household.
Prominent universities such as Texas A&M University, Montclair University, California State University, Fullerton, University of Tampa, and University of Mississippi are among those she is proud to have witnessed her children and grandchildren attend.
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Shirley’s family is equally proud of her for all of her achievements over the years and is happy that she is getting the credit she is due.
Brianna Robinson, Shirley’s granddaughter, remarked, “My grandmother never missed a high school or college graduation for any of her children or grandchildren.”I am incredibly inspired and honored. She always encouraged us to follow our aspirations and said, “If you believe in God, anything is possible.”
Shirley who is also a dedicated churchgoer, has spent decades as a faithful Baptist working in and around her communities as a missionary where she was committed to caring for the sick and poor.
She credits God for her diploma because she believes His plan and works through others is the reason those who have experience versus education still have the ability to be rewarded for their tireless efforts in life.
“I’m really appreciative, and I’m really thankful to God. I always try to figure out, What do people see in me? I draw people, no matter what color they are, who they are, I just draw people,” she said.
According to Californian Tan Galia Robinson, Shirley’s daughter, Finch, the police chief, was moved by the touching remarks made at her milestone birthday celebration.
Shirley chuckled when asked about her future plans and if she would be continuing her schooling, stating that she is instead getting ready to meet her maker. I’m preparing myself to go to heaven, that’s what I’m doing. She declared, “I’m going to get my reward from him.”
