For Maryette McFarland from Londonderry, Northern Ireland, the dream of earning a university degree may have taken seventy years — but she’s finally done it.
Now 90, Maryette has graduated with a degree in English Literature, completing a journey that began in the 1960s. Back then, she had joined university in Dublin but left her studies to get married and raise a family.
Decades later, encouraged by her family and driven by her love for learning, she decided to return to education — this time, online.
“I can hardly believe it, and it’s taken me quite a long time,” Maryette said after graduating. Though studying online was challenging, she said her family — including her four children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren — were “wonderful” in supporting her.
“I’m very bad online but I had a lot of help from the family,” she laughed, sharing that her daughter-in-law even taught her how to type.
Her eldest daughter, Shauna Gailey, said proudly, “I am just so proud of her.”
Maryette’s achievement is not just a personal milestone — it’s a shining example of perseverance, passion, and the timeless power of education. Her story reminds us that dreams may rest, but they never truly fade away.
— Reported by Allycaral | Connecting Global
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