The first day of college is very different from the first day of high school.
College gives students a lot more freedom than high school ever did. It also forces them to learn how to manage their own time, as things aren't planned out for them. It is a big learning experience for everyone.
The difference between college and high school is that not everyone in college has to be close in age. In high school, everyone in your grade is roughly your age, give or take a couple of months, and you'll never have a class with someone five or 10 years older than you.
In college, a senior can be an actual senior citizen, in their 70s or 80s, or even a World War II veteran who is 90! One 18-year-old girl learned this firsthand, as when she started her first day of college, her 82-year-old grandfather was there too!
[H/T: Buzzfeed]
Melanie Salazar is an 18-year-old freshman at Palo Alto College in California.
Her grandfather, 82-year-old Rene Neira, is one class away from getting his associate's degree — at the same school!
Rene started school in the 1950s, Melanie told Buzzfeed News, but when he started his family, he stopped to focus on that.
Here and there he's taken college courses in recent years, but "it was never a consistent thing, until my grandma died in 2009,” Melanie said.
Rene became inspired to really get things rolling and now he's only got one class left!
Melanie couldn’t be prouder of her grandpa, who is also her best friend, so she shared his accomplishments on Twitter and she got an overwhelming amount of support!
While college is definitely very relaxed, Rene also acknowledges the fact that he is the oldest person in his class.
“Sometimes I wonder, what in the world is an 82-year old doing, going to college?” Rene said. “But somehow, something keeps me going. I think it keeps me mentally alert, too.”
“It’s been pretty awesome,” she said. “I know it’s only going to be for one semester, but I’m going to cherish that while I can.”
The two will meet up with each other at school during lunch to hang out.
Melanie is inspired by her grandpa's perseverance at school.
“It only motivates me more to not give up,” she said. “It makes me realize the importance of getting an education like my grandpa…so I can accomplish something great like him.”
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