A 96-year-old man who recently graduated from college in Italy is not only celebrating his accomplishment but also a historic one as he has become the oldest person in the country to earn a college degree.
On July 29, according to Reuters, Giuseppe Paterno graduated at the top of his class from the University of Palermo with a degree in history and philosophy.
The former railway worker had been working toward his degree for the past three years and was commended by his family and the university’s staff and students—notably, more than 70 years younger than him—as he finally accepted his diploma last week.
“I am a normal person, like many others. I have surpassed all the others in terms of age, but I didn’t do it for this,” Paterno told Reuters after graduating. “I said, ‘That’s it, now or never,’ and so in 2017, I decided to enroll.”
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,'” he added.
Originally from Sicily, Paterno grew up in a poor family before the Great Depression and only received basic schooling in his childhood, according to Reuters.
The outlet reported that he eventually joined the Navy and served during World War II. Later, Paterno pursued a career working on the railways, got married, and welcomed two children.
Though living through poverty and war, Paterno was always passionate about learning and furthering his education. At age 31, he graduated from high school but didn’t return to the classroom until 2017, according to Reuters.
While enrolled at the University of Palermo, Paterno said he relied on a manual typewriter his mother gave him after retiring from the railroad in 1984. The outlet reported that he also used printed books instead of Google for research.
In March, Paterno faced another challenge when the coronavirus pandemic hit Italy, halting his in-person classes and forcing him to learn through video conferences from his home in Palermo.
Still, his determination to earn his degree never wavered.
“All of that strengthened us—all of my peer group, all of those who are still alive,” he told Reuters. “It didn’t scare us that much.”
Now, with a new college degree, Paterno wants to continue learning and looks forward to expanding his knowledge independently.
“My project for the future is to devote myself to writing; I want to revisit all the texts I didn’t have a chance to explore further. This is my goal,” he explained to the outlet. “Knowledge is like a suitcase that I carry with me; it is a treasure.”
