CNN reports that Melanie Salazar, 23, and her 88-year-old grandfather Rene Neira both graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio in December.
Recall SEB brought you this story very late last year curtsey, NPR with the title “Rene Neira Graduates From UTSA”
Well, same report is today captured by CNN with the caption “A terminally ill grandfather graduated college side by side his granddaughter”.
According to the report, Neira started school in the 1950s, but then fell in love and started a life for his family. He took classes occasionally throughout the years before deciding to work toward his goal of getting his college degree. He enrolled in 2016 -- the same year his granddaughter started her freshman year.
SEB understands that both Nera and his granddaughter never shared a class together because of their differing majors, but would sometimes would share lunch together, meet up at the library to work on homework, and even carpool to campus.
Submitting further, CNN reports that Neira had suffered from a stroke just before the Covid-19 pandemic and had to take a medical leave from classes. Then the pandemic shut down the campus and he was unable to navigate the world of online classes. But his family was determined to get him the college degree he's always wanted.
According to the report, they had found out the week of graduation that he would be honored. The duo was met with many cheers from family, friends and fellow classmates as Salazar pushed Neira across the stage to get their degrees.
Salazar received her Bachelor of Arts in communications, while Neira got a degree of recognition in economics.
Though, Neira is now terminally ill and in hospice.
See below, screenshots of online comments on the story:
No comments:
Post a Comment