Fall 2015 Commencement Profile: Elizabeth Reilly
When Elizabeth 鈥淏etty鈥 Reilly applied to work at a local library nine years ago at the age of 80, they told her she wasn鈥檛 qualified because she didn鈥檛 complete high school.
When Elizabeth 鈥淏etty鈥 Reilly applied to work at a local library nine years ago at the age of 80, they told her she wasn鈥檛 qualified because she didn鈥檛 complete high school. Later that day she saw an ad for GED classes, and never looked back. On Thursday, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m., Reilly, now 89, will walk across the stage at 澳门六合彩历史记录 to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.
Like many women of her generation, Reilly spent most of her life devoted to her family. She dropped out of high school at 19, married the love of her life, and raised five children. She and her husband moved to Florida in 1965, and both worked hard to make ends meet. Now widowed with adult children, Reilly has spent the last decade focusing on her own happiness.
鈥淚 have 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, but one thing I won鈥檛 do at my age is babysit,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he few remaining years I have are mine to enjoy doing what I love to do.鈥
That 鈥渓ove鈥 is learning. After getting her GED, Reilly began working as a volunteer tutor at a local high school. When a teacher there suggested she go back to college, Reilly knew she wouldn鈥檛 be able to afford it since she lives on a fixed income.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 when they told me about the Pell Grant,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 filled out the forms, went to the local community college and got accepted.鈥
In December 2011, Reilly graduated from Broward Community College with an associate鈥檚 degree. She laughed at the people who thought her college career was over.
鈥淚 said, 鈥榶eah right, I don鈥檛 want to line dance and play bingo the rest of my life, I鈥檓 too alive for that.鈥 I walked across the street to 澳门六合彩历史记录 to start work on my bachelor鈥檚 degree.鈥
Twice a week, Reilly took the bus from her home in Sunrise to 澳门六合彩历史记录鈥檚 Davie campus. The faculty and staff there immediately fell in love with Reilly鈥檚 amazing stories, sense of humor, and overall zest for life.
鈥淏etty is an indomitable spirit and a pleasure to have in class,鈥 said Don Adams, Ph.D., a professor in 澳门六合彩历史记录鈥檚 Department of English.聽 鈥淪he once told me that my classes in modern literature 鈥榙ragged her from the shallow to the deep end of the pool鈥, a comment I will always remember. She will be missed when she graduates.鈥
Reilly鈥檚 pursuit of education is inspiring those around her to go back to school as well. She says she鈥檚 convinced more than 30 people to go back and get a degree.
鈥淚鈥檓 so enthusiastic that I鈥檓 bubbling over,鈥 she said.
Following her long-awaited walk across the stage, Reilly will be back in the classroom in January. Since she can鈥檛 afford a master鈥檚 degree, several of her professors have agreed to let her be a guest in their classes. She鈥檚 going to soak up as much knowledge as she can.
鈥淲hen it comes to education, it鈥檚 never too late,鈥 she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a prime example, and I love it.鈥-澳门六合彩历史记录-
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