97 Year-Old Woman Cries Tears Of Joy After Finally Getting Her High School Diploma

November 20, 2015

Margaret Thome Bekema never graduated from Grand Rapids Catholic Central High in 1936 like she was supposed to. Instead she had to leave school to take care of her mother, who was sick with cancer, and siblings.

old lady gets diploma
Credit: Emily Rose Bennett / MLive.com

But thanks to a distant relative, Bekema recently received an honorary diploma from the school, 79 years after she was originally supposed to graduate.

"I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I had to quit school to take over the family. It was hard, you have no idea how hard that was. I loved high school and I had lots of friends."

old lady gets diploma
Credit: Emily Rose Bennett / MLive.com

old lady gets diploma
Credit: Emily Rose Bennett / MLive.com

old lady gets diploma
Credit: Emily Rose Bennett / MLive.com

(h/t) BuzzFeed.


Click Here For The Most Popular On Sunny Skyz

feel good videoFootball Player Asks Friend With Down Syndrome To Homecoming

feel good storiesPeople Are Sharing Their Oddly Romantic Date Stories, And They’ll Make You Smile So Big

feel good storiesThis Pit Bull Was Days Away From Being Euthanized. Now, He's A Police Hero

feel good storiesHospital Staff Go Above And Beyond To Keep Couple’s 62-Year Anniversary Tradition Alive

feel good storiesStrangers Send Man Birthday Wishes At The Exact Minute His Late Mom Used To

feel good storiesHope And Hard Work: Jail Resident Makes History In Clarke County

feel good videoToddler’s 3 A.M. DJ Session Has the Internet Cracking Up

feel good videoDad Dresses As Beast To Walk His Daughter to School And It’s Melting Hearts Everywhere

feel good videoThis Turkey Was Heartbroken — Until Her Owner Gave Her The Sweetest Surprise

feel good videoThey Found Out He Couldn’t Afford The Shirt. Their Response Went Viral For All The Right Reasons

feel good videoThe Last Runner To Cross The NYC Marathon Finish Line Got The Biggest Ovation Of All

Chris Filippou 12:17 PM (3 minutes ago) to me