85-Year-Old Woman Graduates College, Proves You’re Never Too Old To Follow Your Dreams

A Florida woman is proving that age is just a number and that you are never too old to achieve your dreams.

At 85 years old, Arlyne Frankel is Florida International University’s newest graduate!

For the past 61 years, Frankel dreamed of finishing her bachelor’s and receiving her degree, and her hard work finally paid off. She is now getting her diploma after five years of classes.

This is not the first time Frankel has attended college. She first started at Boston University when she was 18 years old, but ended up leaving school for other job opportunities before she got to finish her four years.

When she retired at 79 years old, Frankel decided that she wanted to return to school and try to achieve the goal she set for herself many, many years ago.

It wasn’t until she turned 80 that she found out she had a learning disability, which is the reason why she struggled in school decades earlier. Knowing this information now helped Frankel focus in school and do better this time around.

After five years of classes, Frankel graduated with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from FIU’s College of Arts, Sciences and Education.

Although she plans on staying retired, attaining her degree was something she wanted to do to challenge herself and keep her mind going, as well as keeping her promise to herself from 61 years ago.

“Do it, do it, just do it. Don’t put your mind in it, just do it, if you have something in your heart and you think, ‘Oh I’m too old,’ you’re never too old,” Frankel told NBC Miami.

Hear her inspiring story in the video below: