Stephen: 89 year old receives masters degree

Joan Donovan, age 89, just received her masters degree in creative writing from Southern New Hampshire University. Donovan graduated high school at the age of 16, but her parents didn’t have enough money to send her to college. Shortly after graduating she married and started a family which got in the way of her education as well.

She decided to go get her associates degree after her children had moved away, but instead graduated with a bachelors degree at the age of 84.

“Then I said, ‘why not keep going?'” Donovan said in a news release from SNHU. She determined she wanted to earn her master’s in creative writing, but her college didn’t offer a program. She ended up enrolling in SNHU’s online program to pursue her goal.

“I was afraid to try college,” Donovan said. “So I say, ‘try things.’ If you fail, try it again … but just keep trying.”