Giuseppe Paterno, 96, has faced many tests in life: childhood poverty, war and now, the Covid-19 pandemic.
This week, the former railway worker stepped forward to receive his diploma and the traditional laurel wreath awarded to Italian students when they graduate, Reuters reports.
96 years old, first in his class. Never too late-never too old-to learn. #aging #longevity #lifelonglearning #knowledge https://t.co/QCr6VV5Bmn
— Paul Irving (@Paul_Irving1) July 31, 2020
Already in his 90s when he enrolled for a degree in History and Philosophy at the University of Palermo, Paterno grew up loving books, but he never had the chance to study.
“I said, ‘that’s it, now or never,’ and so in 2017, I decided to enroll,” he told Reuters in his apartment in the Sicilian city of Palermo.
This week, he graduated first in his class with top honors, receiving congratulations from the university chancellor Fabrizio Micari.
Way to go, Giuseppe!