US Women, 88-Year-Old Joan Alexander Finally Gets Her College Degree

Joan Alexander, now 88 years old, has finally achieved her dream of becoming a college graduate. More than 60 years ago, she had to leave college just before graduating because she was pregnant. Now, after all these years, she has received her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Maine.

Back in the early 1950s, Joan was a student at the University of Maine. Everything was going well, and she was on track to graduate in 1959. But when she became pregnant with her first child, she was not allowed to finish the student teaching part of her course. That requirement was necessary to earn her degree. So, even though she completed all her other classes, she couldn’t graduate.

Recently, her daughter Tracy contacted the University of Maine to ask if there was any way her mother could finally get her degree. That’s when Justin Dimmel, the Associate Dean at the university, looked into Joan’s past work.

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He discovered that Joan had worked full-time in 1980–81 as a teaching aide in a preschool. In that job, she helped young children learn to speak better, use their hands and bodies, play creatively, and get ready to read. After reviewing this, the university decided that this work counted as the student teaching she had missed all those years ago.

Mr. Dimmel said he was touched by Joan’s story and was happy to help make sure she got the recognition she deserved for her hard work—not just in college, but throughout her life.

On May 11, the university held a graduation ceremony. Joan couldn’t be there in person, so her daughter Tracy and granddaughter Isabel went on her behalf. Tracy said it was a special moment to share with her daughter and to celebrate her mother’s long-awaited success.

Joan said she always felt a little left out because her husband and all four of her daughters have college degrees. Now, with her own degree finally in hand, she feels complete. “I didn’t realize it would mean so much to me,” she said. “But now I feel like a missing piece of my heart is finally whole.”

Joan Alexander’s story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to chase your dreams.