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Perfect GPA at 96: 96-year-old woman graduates from college with 4.0 and sets new record

Violet Edwards, who is 96 years old, set a new record as the oldest African-American woman to earn a college degree.

She graduated from Mercy College in New York, United States and did not just graduate but also graduated with a perfect score.

According to stats, Violet Edwards is the fifth-oldest college graduate in the world and the oldest individual to get a degree in Florida, the United States.

READ ALSO: Never give up: 75-year-old grandma earns MSc in Education, says PhD is next

Violet was born in Jamaica in 1925. She was a brilliant student and a reader when she was a young girl and was the first person in her area to receive a full academic scholarship to enroll at Jamaica’s Happy Grove High School.

Why Violet Edwards didn’t attend college earlier 

She reportedly enrolled for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate, which she needed to continue with her schooling during the years of World War II.

There were worries that the ship carrying the tests, which had to be taken to England for grading, would become a war casualty, but her exam arrived safely in London, and she passed.

Early in the 1980s, she enrolled at the College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, New York, but reluctantly departed because of financial difficulties.

Violet began working in Jamaica and had a fruitful career there, rising to the position of the first female regional inspector appointed by the Jamaica Postal Service.

She put her family first throughout her work, ensuring that her daughter attended medical school.

As of right now, her daughter, Dr. Christine Edwards, serves as the Florida Perinatal Center, LLC’s medical director in the United States.

Violet Edwards made the decision to go back to school despite holding down a full-time job after supporting her daughter through her higher education. Another financial obstacle later prevented her from attaining her objective.

She consequently decided to keep putting all of her efforts into assisting her daughter in starting a medical practice and raising her grandkids, with the goal of returning to school before becoming 100.

Violet took another chance at college 

Violet was admitted as a transfer student at Mercy College in New York, but she was only able to transfer 84 of the credits she had previously earned at the College of New Rochelle, New York so she was only able to achieve an Associate of Science degree.

She enrolled in certain online courses, making computers, the internet, and smartphones mandatory. 

According to her, she had to adapt to online classes even though she was not used to it.

Her daughter and son-in-law helped keep her connected and assisted with any problems.

She graduated with the highest honours and a 4.0/4.0-grade point average from Mercy College.

Violet inspires all and has shown everyone no matter the delay or setback. You can still achieve your dream. 

READ ALSO: From cleaner to college graduate: 40-year-old woman graduates from same college she cleaned for 14 years

101-year-old black man finally completes high school education after dropping out in 1938

In another news, A 101-year-old known as Merrill Pittman Cooper finally achieved his High School Diploma after abandoning his education in 1938.

Merrill discontinued his education because of the civil war in America and the financial difficulties he encountered.

He enrolled at Storer College in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia US from 1934 to 1938. It was a boarding school founded after the Civil war that educated enslaved children at the time.