Peggy E. Moore graduated from Temple University at age 75 after decades of pursuing her degree. She began at the university 46 years earlier, paused her studies to care for her two sons, and later returned to work and continue earning credits. Her oldest son died at 19 after a heart attack related to a congenital heart defect, and grief made it difficult to navigate daily life. She relied on faith and support from colleagues, including advice to take a class to shift focus. In recent years, her granddaughter Najah Siddiq became a study partner, helping both stay motivated and progress toward their degrees together.
"“When I crossed that stage, the first thing came to my mind: 'I've made it. I'm finally here and really proud of myself, achieving what I set out to do years ago,'” she told Hoda Kotb during a May 29 segment on TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle."
"“I kind of went in a little bit of a depressed mode. My faith kept me going, like I'd just pray all the time and just keep asking God to keep me strong,” Moore said."
"“When no one was looking, I was sitting at my desk crying sometimes. One of my colleagues in the budget office came over to me and he said, 'Well, hey, I think you should take a class,' kind of to take the focus off my depression. And that was the best advice that he gave me,” she said."
"“Knowing that we can go home and do homework together, and I can go over to her house and she can come over to our house, it was a great experience to just see her grow and develop and work towards her degree while I also was working towards my degree,” Najah Siddiq said."
Read at TODAY.com
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