Elizabeth Ann Robertson has proven that it is never too late to go to university and her story about achieving her Master’s Degree is inspiring everyone.
Elizabeth Ann Robertson packed up her life and moved closer to her daughter after her husband passed away in 2010. She needed something to keep herself busy and didn’t want to rely on her daughter to keep her company. She didn’t know anyone else but she was determined to make a new life for herself.
“I then moved to Somerset West. I didn’t know a soul here other than my daughter and her family. I knew it wouldn’t be fair to expect them to provide my social life.”
One day, while sitting reading the local newspaper, she saw an advert for a Postgraduate Diploma in Ancient Cultures at the Department of Ancient Studies. Elizabeth immediately applied for the diploma which was being taught at Stellenbosch University and to her great surprise, she got accepted.
She moved into a “student” flat near the campus, something that was difficult to manage at times but she dedicated her time to completing the diploma and was successful in 2014. But she didn’t stop there!
“When the course came to an end in 2014, I thought, ‘What am I going to do now?’”
Elizabeth started her Master’s. She focused on the education system used in Athens in the 5thand 6th century for her thesis. She called it ‘Growing up Greek: The differing journeys through childhood in ancient Athens and Sparta’. Elizabeth admits that at times it was tough but she looks forward to the free time she will have now.
She was so dedicated she never even owned a TV. Now she can proudly say that at 74, she has earned herself a Master’s. Elizabeth is an inspiration and she proves that it is never too late to learn new things.
We LOVE it! What do you think? If you could go and study anything, what would you do?
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