Against all odds, a 73-year-old parent has returned to school and gotten her master’s, despite having a stroke halfway through. That’s determination.
Jules Hathaway was suffering from empty nest syndrome. After their kids graduated, they felt the emptiness of a home once filled with children. For a large portion of their life, Jules was a parent, and not much more. This didn’t leave them with many employment prospects.
Around 15 years ago, to fill the gap, Jules decided to start volunteering at the University of Maine. While working in the food pantry, they connected with the various students there. “I found students gravitating toward me, trusting me, asking me questions on matters ranging from hook-ups to the existence of God,” Hathaway says. “The day I learned about the program, my heart was filled with joy. I could gain the skills I’d need to get my dream job.”
So, they signed back up for school as a 73-year-old student to study student development in higher education. But it was about to be a bumpy ride.
Getting To Graduation Was A Challenge For 73-Year-Old Mom
Determined to fill the gap in their “work history big enough to drive a semi through,” left by having kids, they knuckled down. But in 2023, they started noticing stroke symptoms and called 911. In the middle of her return to school, the 73-year-old had a serious health issue.
Now, it wasn’t only studying for their graduation that Hathaway needed to do. “I had to relearn stuff like walking and eating with utensils. I couldn’t hold a pencil with my formerly dominant hand,” the 73-year-old student recalled. “Speech was a struggle. I knew what I wanted to say, but had a hard time shaping the syllables. I didn’t have much strength or stamina.”
However, they persevered, and seven years later, they graduated despite the serious health problems. Now, the job market is open to them, if they choose. Although, a 73-year-old shouldn’t be working anywhere. They should have their feet up and a nice, tall glass of something cold.
But maybe she’s just looking to stay busy. It’s never too late to learn something new.