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Along Life’s Way
Better Late
Than Never
By Lois E. Wilson
In my family, education has seldom followed the usual schedule of after
high school four straight years of college. My father, with work years
in between, took eight years from start to earning his BA degree in
1926. He later commuted regularly to the University of Cincinnati and
completed a MEd degree in 1940.
My mother received a 2-year teaching certificate in 1926, but Dayton
schools wouldn’t hire her because heaven forbid—she was married! A
superintendent from another district observed her working with children
and hired her to teach first grade. Many years later, she enrolled at
the University of Dayton. I was at her graduation in 1946 when she
received her BA degree.
After high school, for two years, I studied Applied Arts at the
University of Cincinnati. I married. When my husband, who had just
completed his 4-year degree at OSU, was called to active duty by the
Army, we bought a house trailer and were off to Fort Knox. After a
month, he was transferred to another base, and several months later
back to Fort Knox. My father kept writing me how we should locate the
trailer close to a college so that I could finish my degree. He didn’t
seem to realize that our location was not very secure. Events in Korea
could change Jim’s orders quickly.
His active service over, we moved to Dayton. I was expecting our first
child, but decided to take a few courses at the Dayton Art
Institute. In the art class, pregnant me straddling a
treadle-powered pottery wheel was a sight to behold.
In the 50’s and 60’s we lived in Eaton, Ohio. Jim commuted to Miami U.
Oxford and earned an MBA degree. After his achievement, we all sat down
at the kitchen table and discussed plans. Jim and our sons agreed that
they would support my finishing my bachelor degree. They were
cheerleaders all the way; they helped around the house and made sure I
had study time. When I took Geology, we all went hunting for fossil
specimens. They posed for scenes in a mural I painted for an art class.
We were all gaining more knowledge.
In 1966 before the commencement ceremony, I was pulled out of the line
of graduates and informed I was graduating summa cum laude. The PR
people took my photo. My dad was satisfied at last. Later Miami
offered, and I accepted, a graduate assistantship. I completed my MEd
degree.
Look on the internet and you’ll find examples of people who completed
their educational goals at very advanced ages, ninety and above. Thanks
to my writing needs, I learned the computer skills I have when in my
70’s. The goals to finish what you start and to always yearn to learn
fulfill in many ways. They help keep your mind young. Unfortunately,
they usually don’t work that way on your body too. When it comes to
knowledge this saying applies: “Half a loaf is better than none”—just
make sure it goes into your head and not into your breadbasket.
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