Ninety-seven-year-old Margaret Bekema has finally received the diploma she couldn't earn eight decades ago.
As a teenager, she was forced to drop out school to take care of her three younger siblings after their mother passed away from cancer.
After familial household duties were lifted off her shoulders, she did clerical work for the armed forces, and after that became a preschool teacher. But Margaret never went back to high school to graduate.
But now you can watch the moment when she finally earns her high school diploma. The emotional moment left her with tears in her eyes.
We love when our veterans and hardworking parents and grandparents finally get what they deserve. After all of their dedication and sacrifice, we think they've earned their diplomas! Check out this veteran who graduated high school with his granddaughter and this 99-year-old woman who finally earned her college degree 75 years after she wasn't able to pay the small fee required to graduate!
Margaret is now a proud graduate of Catholic Central High School, Class of 1936!
“She said her heart was broken when she dropped out and today was just a small part to lift that heart,” Catholic Central principal Greg Deja told Fox17.
Congratulations to Margaret! This is definitely a well-deserved diploma!
If you're just as proud of Margaret as we are, please SHARE her incredible story with your friends and family!
