10 Truly Amazing Back to School Stories

For so many students, education is a dream deferred that once put off never comes back around. But for the lucky few, going back to school is an incredible journey of determination and hard work. We’re inspired by these tales of students who made it back to school after life changing episodes, against staggering dropout statistics, leaving rewarding lives that just weren’t complete without an education. Read on to learn about our 10 favorite back-to-school stories, and get inspired to change your life through the power of education.

1. Hunting down dropouts in Chicago

   In a city with 60,000 dropouts, the sad truth is that most of them never come back. But some principals are working to bring their truant students back to school and make sure they don’t become a part of the staggering statistics. Chicago’s WBEZ news station shares an incredible story of how these principals practically hunt down truant students, visiting their homes and asking them to seriously confront why they’re not in school. Some principals go even further, visiting known truant hangouts and explaining why they should not be allowing youth patronage during school hours. Often, they find students who have already dropped out and find ways to encourage them to beat the odds and come back to school.

2. The girl with half a brain

   For Cameron Mott, a 9-year-old girl, going to school is a success story. Mott suffered from a rare, life threatening condition that caused her to have violent seizures 10 or more times a day, a condition that kept her from her studies and required doctors to remove half of her brain. Amazingly, Mott’s young and flexible brain rewired itself after the surgery, and through intense therapy, she was able to recover and live a normal life. She was also able to return to school, and is now a second grader.

3. Million dollar football vs. school

   For many people, the choice between signing a football contract worth $2 million and going back to school is a no-brainer. But instead of signing a contract to continue playing with the Arizona Cardinals, Jason Wright has pursued a scholarship to the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. The program will allow him to one day open a charter school for inner-city children, a goal that was inspired by Wright’s family commitment to helping young, disadvantaged women. Although not everyone may understand why an NFL star would leave the football life behind, his teammates have lauded him for his courage to pursue a “higher calling.”

4. A debt-free college education

   Get Rich Slowly reader Crystal shared her story of not just going back to school in her mid-30s, but doing it without any debt. She says that she put off going to college in order to save up for school, but then never actually went. Ten years later, she made a goal to really make it to school this time, and she did. Through grants, tax credits, and scholarships, she has been able to return to community college with just $3,411 in out of pocket costs. Her story is an inspirational one for any adult who wants to make their long-held dream of education come true, no matter their financial situation.

5. From addict to graduate and counselor

   Mary Price was once a highly functional drug addict, graduating from high school, raising a family, and working as a teller at a horse track. But after checking herself into a rehab facility, the staff encouraged Price to become a recovery counselor herself. So after beating her drug addiction, she put determination into action, returning to school to get a certificate in alcohol and drug counseling. She admits that at 69 years of age, it was a challenge to go back to school but that helping people “feels so rewarding,” and every small victory for her at school made her feel “prouder and prouder” of her accomplishments.

1. The oldest college graduate

   You may have heard of Nola Ochs, who amazingly became the world’s oldest college graduate in 2007. She earned her teacher’s certification in the ’30s, but pursuing any further education was put on hold while she was married and raising children on a farm. After her children grew up and her husband died, Ochs found that she wanted to resume her education, receiving an associate’s degree at the age of 77, but she didn’t stop there. She received a bachelor’s degree at 95, graduating alongside her granddaughter, and a master’s degree at 98. Ochs is an incredible example of the never-ending drive for lifelong learning.

2. Harvard against the odds

   Two thousand miles and 11 kids couldn’t keep Allyson Reneau, a 50-year-old mom from Oklahoma, away from Harvard. In earlier years, she dropped out of the University of Oklahoma to get married and have a baby, a detour that was at the time supposed to be temporary, until she continued to have babies and found herself at the head of a 13-member household. But when her youngest child turned 5, she decided to once again pursue her dream to re-enroll in school and subsequently earned a bachelor’s degree. Flush with success, Reneau was inspired to pursue a master’s degree from Harvard and is now enrolled in the Harvard Extension School. She commutes 4,000 miles each Monday, returning home to her family and business on Tuesday mornings. Reneau’s family is incredibly supportive, and as a mom, her incredible effort is an inspiration to her children.

3. A life reinvention at 59

   Priscilla Santiago left high school at the age of 16 after she was sexually assaulted by both her father and stepfather. After dropping out, she waitressed until she found a job with Bayer pharmaceuticals as a forklift operator and worked there until she was laid off when the plant was shut down in 2005. At 59, she applied for unemployment and was advised that the agency would pay for her education, a program that she took advantage of. Santiago was able to earn her GED, and upon graduation was further encouraged to enroll in community college, where she stayed on the dean’s list the whole time until she earned her associate’s degree. She even continued and earned a bachelor’s degree, graduating with her class despite taking exams while her mom was on her death bed. Santiago’s degree is in human services, allowing her to help others who have experienced abuse and violence. She is now a part of The Workplace, an organization that helps those in need get the training and jobs they need to turn their lives around, just like Santiago.

4. Stepping up for family

   A college graduate at 41, Tammy Ramsey waited 25 years after graduating from high school to achieve her dream of a college degree. After college, she happily got married and raised children, but when her husband became sick and was placed on disability, the family reached a crisis point. Ramsey stepped up for her family and enrolled in a community college, working full time and taking night classes. She then finished her teaching degree with Western Governors University and has earned her teaching license to become a provider for her family. Ramsey says that despite feeling overwhelmed and discouraged at times, the challenge was worth it.

5. Grandpa plays college football

   He’s a grandpa who has fought in Vietnam, and it seems that he’s already had a great life, but 61-year-old Alan Moore does not seem to be content to rest in his later years. After he was laid off from his construction job, Moore decided to go back to school. He went to college to finish a degree he started over 40 years ago, and not just that: he tried out for the school’s football team, becoming the kicker and the oldest college football player ever. His advice: believe in yourself, and never give up.

Taken From Best Colleges Online