Gloria Stowers, 70, has achieved her goal of earning her college degree. She marched across the stage in December wearing her cap and gown, along with fellow Kennesaw State University graduates.
Her age notwithstanding, Stowers decided to bag the degree in art education that she had always aimed for. She told Fox 5 Atlanta, “Yes, I’m 70. I’ll be 71 in April.”
She explained that the journey she began six years ago was to change the narrative in her family. “I wanted to get away from the generation of my family being uneducated to being educated. Because being educated can give you opportunities in life. It makes the road that much easier. It gives you options you don’t even know of until you go,” Stowers said.
Even though her parents had only completed elementary school, she made it her mission, as a single mother for her three children, Dijon, Sasha, and Maya, to attend college. She chose to fulfill her desire as well when they finally gained their independence.
Her daughter, Maya said, “I think the background of my mom’s story is so unique, just with her going from a wife with three kids and going from my dad dying and her being left with a 12-year-old, a 6-year-old, and a 3-year-old at that point in time and still not giving up.”
The septuagenarian encouraged others to chase their dreams and aspirations.
“I wouldn’t say the key word is wait. I would say, no matter what, it is that you have a desire for, put the action into it. And time is of the essence, so every day utilize the time that is given to you. And that is my fulfillment of all the things that I’ve accomplished. Be blessed and take advantage of what’s at hand,” Stowers advised.
The proud graduate emphasized that this is simply the beginning of her journey and that she plans to still go higher.
Stowers also expressed her desire to teach art to kids, and she also reiterated her eagerness to explore new opportunities.
“That’s instilled in me today. I still got many more things I want to do. I’m so excited for life,” she said.
