‘Better Late Than Never’: Alabama Woman Graduates High School At 94

Jun 08, 2021 by apost team

It's never too late to try to achieve your dreams. Whether that means putting them on hold for the time being and going back to them later, or readjusting something else in your life in order to shift your focus directly to completing your goal, it's never too late to reach for the stars and make your dreams come true. One major accomplishment that people can try to achieve is to learn as much as they can and continue their education for their personal life journeys.

Obtaining an education is one of the most important and rewarding accomplishments someone can achieve in the course of their lifetime. While typical school is not always the route everyone takes, furthering one's own education can be extremely helpful in life later on. From trade school to college to a completely online degree, the opportunities are endless when it comes to continuing on in your journey of education and development.

It's never too late to learn a new skill or to finish something that you may have started many years ago. For one woman in the state of Alabama, this sentiment is all too true. At 94 years old, Grace Lee McClure Smith finally received her high school diploma in June 2021 from Hazel Green High School in the Madison County School District. Although it took her much longer than the usual student, Grace never gave up on completing the education she started so many years ago and has continued to inspire others with her lifetime of hard work and dedication.

Although it took quite a bit longer than usual, Grace finally completed a lifelong desire and graduated from her high school in Hazel Green, Alabama. The graduation ceremony for Hazel Green High School took place on June 2, 2021. WAAY-31 reported that many of Grace's family members were there to support her during her time of celebration, including her siblings, great-grandchildren, and many others. WKYC reported that it was Grace's own granddaughter who organized the graduation ceremony so the family could be together to show their love and support for the elderly woman. Grace received an honorary degree from Hazel Green High School.

"She's never mentioned regretting anything in life," Grace's granddaughter Erin Wilson said. "She would never take it back because she absolutely loved my grandfather and that was just what she wanted to do, but I think this was very important to her."

It was incredibly important to the 94-year-old, and she made sure to express that to her family members who were able to attend her graduation ceremony. "I am so grateful, thank you so much," Grace said.

"It's better late than never, isn't it?"

For most people, graduating from high school typically takes four years, although sometimes plans can change, and that can impact the usual timeframe. For Grace, this achievement has taken 79 years to fulfill. WAAY-31 reported that the woman actually dropped out of school back in 1942 when she was just 16 years old so her husband could fight in World War II.

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Despite not continuing her enrollment at Hazel Green High School, Grace had not strayed far from the establishment as she had worked as a bus driver for the Madison County School District for 30 years, according to WAAY-31. The woman's sharp memory has come in handy both for her time as a bus driver and her time as a high school student once again.

"She'll say, 'I can't remember exactly who you were, go ahead and tell me where you lived,'" Wilson said. "So they'll give the address, and she'll say, "Oh yeah, I remember you,' and then she'll start with stories." After spending a good portion of her life involved in the school district, Grace surely has plenty of stories to share with her loved ones. Along with those stories, the caring woman has also made sure to teach her family about the importance of learning. Grace has plenty of people to inspire and pass her wisdom onto, as she has a very large family with 23 great-grandchildren, according to WAAY-31.

Her granddaughter Wilson has expressed her appreciation for Grace's commitment to education. "She drove me actually on the school bus, so I rode with her to and from school," Wilson explained. "And she always encouraged me to go to school, make sure I finish school and now she encourages my girls."

Grace has definitely been a beacon of hope and inspiration to her family and friends as she has proven that it's never too late to finish what you start. She achieved a lifelong goal of becoming a high school graduate and finally reached it in June 2021.

What did you think about this heartwarming story? Do you have any goals you're currently working toward achieving? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your family and friends, too!