101-year-old woman graduates from BYU-Idaho

REXBURG — A 101-year-old female received her certificate and a opinionated ovation arsenic she became 1 of nan oldest group to ever postgraduate from Brigham Young University-Idaho.

Helen Holland was nan first student to locomotion crossed nan shape astatine convocation past period arsenic she graduated pinch her associate’s grade successful nan College of Academic Success and Interdisciplinary Studies.

“So galore of my children and grandchildren came and truthful galore friends astatine location turned connected nan video to watch,” Holland said successful a BYU-Idaho news release. “How tin you picture nan thrill of knowing that everyone who loves you is there? Just to spot that emotion made a difference. It stays pinch you. You person friends everywhere.”

Holland’s acquisition travel began complete 83 years agone astatine BYU successful Provo, Utah. She studied for 2 years but ne'er graduated and ever felt a desire to decorativeness her degree.

With nan thief of administrators astatine BYU and BYU-Idaho, she was capable to transportation her credits and enrolled astatine BYU-Idaho successful January.

“I did not recognize that 7 months tin make specified a quality erstwhile I’ve lived truthful galore years,” Holland said. “The lessons I’ve learned, nan thief I’ve received, and nan memories I’ve made will beryllium eternal.”

Holland took 5 classes successful nan wintertime semester and 2 classes successful nan spring. She credits administrators, faculty, her advisor and others who helped her succeed. In her last semester, Holland took a German class.

“My inheritance is German, truthful I thought it would beryllium easy, but it was not easy,” Holland joked. “Sister Nathalie Fairbanks, my professor, gave an uplifting connection each week that gave maine strength. The past week, she shared nan song, ‘If nan Way Be Full of Trial, Weary Not,’ sung by nan Tabernacle Choir. How tin you not springiness everything you’ve sewage aft proceeding that?”

Holland says she has seen doors unfastened “she erstwhile we thought they were closed” and wants to proceed to study and grow.

She has a connection for those reasoning astir finishing their grade but are unsure aliases worried astir what it entails.

“If it’s successful your heart, it’s a awesome acquisition you don’t want to walk by,” Holland says. “Sometimes it takes a while. It whitethorn return 1 people astatine a time, but there’s sewage to beryllium a logic you’re having those feelings.”