In a heartwarming display of perseverance and determination, 72-year-old Patty Soter recently walked across the stage at Schoolcraft College’s 60th Annual Commencement Ceremony, fulfilling a lifelong dream that had been decades in the making. Dressed in her cap and gown, surrounded by fellow graduates young enough to be her grandchildren, Soter accepted her associate degree with pride as her supportive family cheered her on. Her journey represents an extraordinary example of how it’s never too late to pursue educational goals, even after retirement.
Inspirational Triumph at 72
Patty Soter’s educational path was anything but direct. The Plymouth resident had started and stopped her academic journey approximately four times throughout her life, balancing education with a career that included positions as an airline reservationist and secretary at various institutions, including the University of Michigan. Despite these interruptions, her desire for a college education remained unwavering. “When I retired from U of M, I decided this was the time,” Soter explained. “It was time for me to complete my goal, and I wanted a college education.”
What makes Soter’s achievement particularly remarkable is her decision to return to education at an age when most people are settling into retirement. After speaking with an advisor who informed her she only needed a few more classes to complete her degree, she enrolled at Schoolcraft College, a familiar institution where she had previously taken fitness classes. Her persistence through multiple stops and starts over the decades showcases an admirable level of commitment. Rather than viewing retirement as the end of her productive years, Soter saw it as an opportunity to finally accomplish the educational milestone that had eluded her for so long.
Never Too Late for Dreams
Soter’s campus experience was filled with memorable moments that highlighted the unique perspective she brought as a senior student. In one particularly humorous incident, younger students mistook her for an instructor when she entered a classroom early. “I guess they saw me as an older person walking in there and they said, ‘Oh, that must be the instructor,’ so everybody follows behind me,” she recalled with amusement. “They were shocked.” Despite the occasional reminder of the age gap between her and her classmates, Soter embraced the college experience fully, particularly enjoying theater classes such as THEA 120 and THEA 210.
Far from considering her associate degree the end of her educational journey, Soter is already contemplating her next academic adventure. After taking some time to travel, she’s seriously considering enrolling at Wayne State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Her advice to others contemplating a return to education later in life is refreshingly straightforward: “I guess you can only say ‘Just do it,'” she encourages. “Think outside the box. Improve your mental capacity, as well as your physical capacity, because it’s all here.” Soter’s inspiring story serves as a powerful reminder that age truly is just a number when it comes to educational achievement and personal growth.
