74-year-old Pat Ormond always taught her granddaughter that its never too late to achieve your dreams. Now, Pat’s proved it by graduating college alongside her!
Never Too Late To Start Again
Pat Ormond first went to college back in 1978. Now, some 42 years later, she will finally earn her degree, a bachelor’s in anthropology, right alongside her young granddaughter. In fact, it was young Melody Ormond, 22, that inspired her grandmother to join the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. “I always knew that I was going to graduate from college,” said Melody Ormond, 22. “I just never knew that my nana was also going to be there.”
As you might imagine, Pat’s life did not go exactly as expected. After taking a few classes at Kennesaw State University in Atlanta in the ’70s, she dropped out and moved to Chattanooga. In order to make a living, Pat worked as a accountant before settling down with her husband and raising a family. She certainly never expected to return to college one day. But as she always taught her family: its never too late too achieve your dreams!
Now that Pat’s retired, it seemed like the perfect time to head to UTC and study alongside her beautiful granddaughter, Melody. The hardest thing for Pat was taking online classes in 2020. However, it wasn’t the technology, but the distance. “It’s definitely more difficult, and I prefer in-class,” Pat said. “I really enjoyed the discussions and being able to interact with so many people from different backgrounds. Not having those people around made it harder.”
Celebrity College Graduate
Before coronavirus hit, Pat and Melody certainly made quite the pair at the UoT. “One of her classes would end at the same time mine would,” Melody said. “I would see her and just scream and yell ‘nana!’ until I got her attention.” The two graduated on November 20. Unfortunately, that meant they had to follow the social distancing rules and couldn’t invite anyone to watch the ceremony. Still, Pat and Melody had each other.
Now, Pat has become something of a celebrity after her story went viral online. The school even made an official announcement about her! “We are so proud to have graduates like Melody Ormond and her grandmother, Pat Ormond, in the UTC class of 2020,” Steven R. Angle, UTC Chancellor, stated. “Together, they personify the determination, commitment and love of lifelong learning we encourage in every UTC graduate.”
Pat also wants everyone to know that learning should be a lifelong goal, not just something for school children. “Learning never stops,” she said. “That’s something that my father instilled in me when I was younger. No matter what you do, learning never stops. Even if it’s auditing a few classes, there’s always that option.” Pat also says the anthropology degree will not be her last. She plans to return and obtain a second in history! Meanwhile, Melody is currently on the job hunt, but would also like to return one day to earn a master’s in clinical psychology. We wish them both the best of luck!
Sources: Fox10Phoenix, MSN