A 74-YEAR-OLD man was awarded a diploma Sunday after he completed a 3-year course at a Shenzhen university, becoming the oldest college graduate in the city’s history.
Wu Liangmei, 74, said he now planned to complete a 4-year degree course in Chinese language and literature jointly offered by Sichuan University and Shenzhen Radio and Television University. “I want to have a bachelor’s degree, to achieve my ultimate goal,” he said at the graduation ceremony on the Shekou campus of Shenzhen Radio and Television University on Sunday.
“I am so glad because my dream of studying at university has finally come true,” said Wu.
Wu was a board chairman of a Shenzhen company before he retired four years ago. “I don’t want to spend my retirement relaxing and doing nothing as many elderly people do. I wanted to do something meaningful with the rest of my life.”
Wu said he wasn’t able to go to university when he was young for various reasons but did not elaborate. He said he had wanted to fulfill his dream of attending a university after retiring when he had more time. Wu signed up for a course in administration on the Shekou campus of Shenzhen Radio and Television University three years ago.
Wu said that he was very nervous going to the university’s registration office because he was afraid his application would be turned down because of his age. Wu, however, received a warm welcome from university staff and was accepted into the three-year course.
Wu would never forget the overwhelming excitement on the first day sitting in a college classroom. “I was sitting next to a young lady. Some classmates looked at me out of curiosity, wondering whether I was a school leader or a grandfather of some student who had come to observe the class,” he said.
Wu went to school three to four evenings a week. During the past three years, he passed in all subjects. He was awarded an excellent graduate for his good academic record.
Apart from his studies, Wu said he had spent some wonderful time with the younger classmates. “We communicate with each other through the Internet and we danced and sang and traveled together on holidays,” Wu said.
(Cai Yingbo)