82-year-old woman bags Bachelor’s degree from University of Maryland with honours, celebrates achievement

“I wanted to make certain I had the time to devote to whichever class I was taking. I was like the tortoise. Slow and steady wins the race,” she was quoted to have said.

“I discovered that I had to be intentional about it and make it my priority,” she added.

Despite being the oldest in her class, Mae Beale devoted much of her time to helping others. ” For four years while she pursued her degree, she served on the UMGC Student Advisory Council. Even after she finished her coursework, she continued as an ex-officio member until her term ended in December 2020. In January 2021, Beale was honored as Volunteer of the Month,” the statement read.

Beale, who participates in several local boards in Maryland as a community advocate, told the university the degree has given her a greater sense of self-confidence: “I knew that if I had the degree, it would solidify things and make me feel more comfortable.”

She encouraged others to pursue higher education with an open mind. “Expose yourself to as many possibilities as you can because you never know what life will present,” she said.