GOOD NEWS! Seventy years after starting her studies, Maryette McFarland was finally able to graduate from university with a degree in English Literature on Friday, Oct. 10.
McFarland, 90, is from Londonderry and attended Open University in Belfast.
She originally started university in Dublin back in the 1960s, but she dropped out of her course to marry the love of her life.
While recovering from a car accident, McFarland decided to return to her studies.
“I had a bit of time to spare,” she told BBC News NI. “I thought I’d like to do something.”
Despite the challenge of learning online classes, her family – four children, grandchildren and great grandchildren – all chimed in to help her. Her daughter-in-law taught her how to type.
McFarland’s eldest daughter Shauna Gailey accompanied her mother to the graduation ceremony in the Waterfront Hall. All the family came to Belfast “for a big family lunch”, before watching Maryette graduate. She shared a message for anyone who thinks they are too old to learn new things: “If I can do it, anybody can. It’s never too late.”
