A 90-year-old woman graduated from Belfast University after 70 years of study.
Seventy years after starting her studies, Merit McFarland from Londonderry in the UK finally managed to graduate with a degree in English Literature from Belfast University.
She said she couldn’t believe she finally completed her education because, in her view, it took a very long time.
This 90-year-old woman was the oldest among more than 300 graduates of the Open University of Belfast at the ceremony on Tuesday, October 14th, and her story is one of determination, patience, and a bit of help from friends, teachers, and family.
Mrs. McFarland first entered university in Dublin in the 1960s, but love caused her to drop out before completing her studies. She said she left her studies and got married instead.
Although it took several decades, she decided to return to university while in the midst of recovering from a car accident.
Mrs. McFarland told BBC News, ‘I had a bit of extra time and thought I’d like to do something.’
