Great-Grandmother Fulfills Lifelong Dream by Graduating College at 90

At 90 years old, Annette Roberge, a mother of five, grandmother of twelve, and great-grandmother of fifteen, achieved a milestone that had been decades in the making: she graduated with an associate degree in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Her journey is a testament to perseverance, the importance of family, and the belief that it's never too late to pursue one's dreams.

A Dream Deferred by Family Priorities

In 1972, following the death of her husband during the Vietnam War, Roberge enrolled at New Hampshire College (now SNHU) with aspirations of earning a degree. However, the demands of raising five young children as a single mother took precedence. Reflecting on that period, she remarked, "You gotta go with priorities. It wouldn't be fair to them to sacrifice them. I figured the children came first, so I just said, 'Well, I'll put it on hold and I'll finish up one of these days.'" This decision led her to take on part-time jobs that accommodated her children's schedules, eventually culminating in a long-standing career in the insurance industry.

Returning to Academia Amidst Challenges

Decades later, in 2017, Roberge contemplated resuming her education. However, health issues and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic delayed her plans. It wasn't until a recent discovery by her daughter, who found that Roberge had accumulated enough credits for an associate degree, that the possibility of graduation resurfaced. At her 90th birthday celebration on November 13, she shared the exciting news with her family, setting the stage for her participation in SNHU's commencement ceremony just two weeks later.

An Inspirational Milestone and Future Aspirations

On November 23, Roberge walked across the stage to receive her diploma, greeted by a standing ovation from fellow graduates, attendees, and family members. Describing the experience, she said, "I wish I could really describe it, because it was just a feeling that 'I'm here, I'm doing it,' and it's still like in [a] magic land, and it just makes my heart [feel] really good without crying." Her accomplishment underscores the message that age should not be a barrier to education. SNHU echoed this sentiment, stating, "We are incredibly proud of Annette earning her associate's degree, ..." Indeed, Roberge plans to begin working toward her bachelor's degree in January, embodying her advice: "If you have a dream, don't let it just sit there, do something."