Studying a university career can be complicated when you already have a family in charge, since the responsibility increases and the chances of finishing your studies are less and less. Although things get complicated, if you will, the means to return to school are sought, and this 88-year-old man proves that it is never too late to fight for your dreams!
A few days ago, Don René Neira surprised thousands of users on social networks after graduating from the University of Texas with his granddaughter in Economics, a few days after his 88th birthday. This surprising story was revealed by Melanie Salazar (René’s granddaughter) through an interview for Good Morning América, a local medium.
In many cases, the economic situation does not allow people to finish their studies, as in the case of René, who had to postpone his education for a long time because he had to work to support his family. Despite several attempts throughout his life, he never managed to retake a bachelor’s degree while working.
Since the 1950s, he has been working towards his bachelor’s degree and it has been one of his life goals and dreams. But in the 1950s he fell in love, got married and started a family, so he couldn’t continue school right away.
In 1980, when his children were already adults, he tried to continue his studies, without success due to a bad run in his family’s economy. In addition to being recognized for being an activist in San Antonio, René worked most of his life in a bank, which is exactly where he got his taste for going back to college.
He was passionate about the urban and economic development of the south side of San Antonio. In the 1960s he did a lot of advocacy through civic engagement. He participated in rallies and marches and became involved with local government. From that moment on, one of his life goals was to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Economics.
In 2009, René suffered the death of his wife, a fact that he took as motivation to follow his dream of studying. In 2016, her granddaughter Melanie was found at the community college at Palo Alto College, where the young woman had just finished high school.
The following year, in 2017, they were both admitted to the University of Texas at San Antonio, although he was in Economics and his granddaughter was in Communications.
Even though we didn’t take the same classes, we ate lunch together, and we were in the library together, we just worked quietly side by side.
Unfortunately, before the covid-19 pandemic began, Don René suffered a minor stroke, for which they had to request special permission from the university to put his studies on hold. After this, the classes began in virtual mode, which was not easy for a person his age.
At this point it is important to note that the man has a terminal illness and is under palliative care. Based on his state of health, his family thought it would be difficult for René to show any improvement, so Melanie and her uncles raised the issue with the university authorities, who chose to award a special recognition degree in Economics in December 2021. to Rene.
My grandfather has definitely inspired me. Through hearing loss, not having a car, taking public transportation, standing up for himself on campus, I really admired his drive, strength or perseverance, to keep going no matter what.
After several decades of pursuing the dream of a university career, at the age of 88, Don René can say: It wasn’t easy but I did it!
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