96-Year-Old Dad Is Italy's Oldest College Graduate [He Also Survived WWII]

A 96-year-old dad from Italy is living proof that there is nothing you cannot do if you put your mind to achieving it. That is even if this meant being poor, going through war, or living during the coronavirus pandemic.

Giuseppe Paterno is now Italy's oldest university graduate after finishing college at the age of 96.

He finished his degree in history and philosophy at the University of Palermo in Italy.

The journey before heading to college

Paterno lived in Sicily, Italy, before the Great Depression hit the world.

He was not from a well-off family, and he only received primary education before joining World War II as part of the navy.

After the war, he worked in the railways and got married. He raised two children along the way.

While trying to provide for his family and rebuilding after the war, the 96-year-old father pursued his high school. He finished high school when he was 31 years old.

Even then, he knew the importance of education, so he also knew he still wanted to pursue studying.

He said, "Knowledge is like a suitcase that I carry with me; it is a treasure."

The college journey of the 96-year-old father

Paterno was already in his 90s when he decided he will enroll in college. It was in 2017 when he started. In an interview with Reuters, the 96-year-old father said, "I said, 'that's it, now or never.'"

Paterno never denied that he understood a three-year degree was a little far-fetched. However, he still pursued it. "I said to myself, 'let's see if I can do it.'"

While studying, his manual typewriter became his buddy. He used it to type his essays. This typewriter was a retirement gift of Paterno's mother in 1984.

Aside from his love for books, the 96-year-old father intentionally avoided using Google for his research and assignments.

During his last few months in the university, Paterno admitted that the shift to online classes in Italy because of the coronavirus pandemic made him uneasy. Nonetheless, he managed to finish his degree.

He said that the coronavirus pandemic could not stop him from finishing something that he planned for a long time. Considering that he went through tough times, he does not see how the pandemic should change anything.

Even Paterno's professor said that the 96-year-old father's dedication should be an inspiration to the younger generation.

The plan after graduating

For some, this may seem like a perfect time for the 96-year-old dad to step away from the books. However, it is not the case for Paterno. He said that he is not about to stop.

He wants to devote his time to writing. While doing so, the fresh graduate would like to revisit texts from his undergraduate. These are the texts that Paterno felt he did not have much time to explore in the past.

That is yet another goal that the 96-year-old dad aims to reach.