73-Year-Old Gets Master’s Degree
By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
Lim Hong-gyu, 73, Wednesday went to Jinju National University in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, to attend a graduation ceremony.
It was not for his grandchild but for himself. At the ceremony, he was awarded a master’s degree in horticulture.
Believing age is just a number, Lim challenged himself to do what he had long wanted to and he obtained it after two and an half years of diligent effort.
``Sometimes, I couldn’t understand what they taught me even after they repeated it 10 times,’’ he said. ``I achieved this thanks to professors and other students who helped me a lot.’’
The former elementary school teacher entered the postgraduate school in 2005 as he had long wanted to study horticulture academically.
In pursuing his dream he had to deal with the concerns of others. But he finally proved them all wrong.
He has previously graduated from the Korea National Open University three times with different majors _ agriculture, elementary education and infant schooling.
His passion and personality to challenge himself began at a very early stage.
He was born without sight in his right eye, which made his life tougher, but never discouraged him, he recalled.
He now plans to enter postgraduate school to earn a doctorate before he turns 80.