User submission 94.7K 92K Social IssuesNov 02, 2015 97-Year-Old Cries Tears Of Joy After She Finally Gets Her High School Diploma Dainius Community member Open list comments 16 Vote arrow up Vote arrow down 314 Open list comments 16 Checkmark Link copied! Share icon Share Checkmark Link copied! Share icon Share Modal close ADVERTISEMENT Margaret Thome Bekema, 97, never graduated from Grand Rapids Catholic Central High in 1936 like she was supposed to. Instead, in 1932, she was forced to leave school to take care of her siblings and her mother who was sick with cancer. However, thanks to a distant relative, Bekema recently received an honorary diploma, just 79 years after she was supposed to graduate. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Bekema told Mlive. “I had to quit school to take over the family. It was hard, you have no idea how hard that was. I loved high school and I had lots of friends.” Central Principal Greg Deja added, “her life has been one of sacrifice and service. It has been so encouraging and inspiring for our community because her choices represent all the core values that we teach our students.”(h/t: mlive) 97-year-old Margaret Bekema burst into tears when she was presented with her graduation capShare iconShe received an honorary highschool diploma 79 years after she was supposed to graduateShare iconBekema was forced to leave school at 17 to take care of her siblings and sick motherShare iconADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTPrincipal Greg Deja presented Bekema with her diplomaShare iconTouchingly, it’s dated the year Bekema would have graduatedShare icon“I had to quit school to take over the family. It was hard, you have no idea how hard that was. I loved high school and I had lots of friends”Share iconBekema even received her school letter!Share iconADVERTISEMENTImage credits: Emily Rose Bennett / APWatch a new report on the event below:ADVERTISEMENT Ic_puzzle Games View all games Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing! Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! 92Kviews Share on Facebook Dainius Author, Community member View profile Follow Read more » This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself. Read less » Dainius Author, Community member Read more » This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself. Read less » View profile Follow Get the latest inspiring stories via our awesome iOS app! Download Bored Panda app! What do you think ? Add photo comments POST LindaHeath LindaHeath Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Personally I think it was was wonderful and a very thoughtful thing to do. Kudos to the school and the principal. Enjoy your diploma Mrs Bekema you deserve it! Vote comment up 17 17points Vote comment down reply TerriGold TerriGold Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report I love this. Vote comment up 5 5points Vote comment down reply AnnaSalerno AnnaSalerno Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report I'll bet the school would have done this a lot sooner if they had known about it. I know how happy this lady must have been. I earned mine after 14 years having my principal present me with it. I went to night school on and off having lived in Europe for two years in between going to night school in PA and TX having to take my final course from Texas Tech in a correspondence course to get my final credit. I was so proud of myself for sticking to it while raising three children and taking care of a family. It meant the world to me. Vote comment up 3 3points Vote comment down reply person (i think) person (i think) Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report You have the type of drive that is really inspirational to me. Thank you for sharing your story. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Load More Replies... guineapiglover12 guineapiglover12 Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW Vote comment up 1 1point Vote comment down reply Fanchon Anderson Fanchon Anderson Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report I send this article to all those that I come in contact with that are struggling with day to day stuff and trying to go back to school. There's no trying to go back to school. There's only getting there like she did. SHE didn't have a choice back then. But in today's world, there's no excuse there's SOOO many resources to get your diploma, certification, and/or degree plan. Financial aid, state assistance, etc. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Rhon Rhon Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report NO WAY AM I WATCHING THIS VIDEO! I'm in tears after just reading the article. What a precious lady. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply JenniferGorman JenniferGorman Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report My own beloved Gram had to leave high school to help support her family as well. She died almost ten years ago now in her 80's after a stroke took away her ability to speak, but never her spark or ability to fiercely communicate her love for her children and grandchildren and the nursing home's nurses. She would have loved this. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply SusanRiley SusanRiley Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report With all the c**p that's on the Internet, it's great to hear a good story for once! Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply YoseTriarto YoseTriarto Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report There's no other greater joy than receive what we should get it. But sometimes life is so unpredictable. Whatever the reason why the school doing for last 79 years it should be make Mrs Bekema crying from her deep heart. She is very very lucky as a graduated high school diploma. Many students around the world had the same experience-forced to leave the school due to the family matters-but has no opportunity to get their high school diploma certificate ever. Congratulation Mrs Bekema. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Martin Martin Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Chop, Chop... college awaits, and all the drunk fratboys hitting on you. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply BrianZhong BrianZhong Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Although this is very touching, I'm wondering why the school decided to do this when she's 97 years old. I mean it took 79 years to get an honorary diploma? Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply AmyBramblette AmyBramblette Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Perhaps no one thought about it until the one relative did it. I doubt the school knew. Vote comment up 4 4points Vote comment down reply Load More Replies... NorwegianTravelers NorwegianTravelers Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Aww :'( so sad! Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply samanthaiza samanthaiza Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report its so sad how old she graduated but it was stoposted to be 18 Vote comment up -2 -2points Vote comment down reply samanthaiza samanthaiza Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago This comment is hidden. Click here to view. DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report why!? its just ONE SINGLE YEAR!!! Vote comment up -4 -4points Vote comment down reply POST LindaHeath LindaHeath Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Personally I think it was was wonderful and a very thoughtful thing to do. Kudos to the school and the principal. Enjoy your diploma Mrs Bekema you deserve it! Vote comment up 17 17points Vote comment down reply TerriGold TerriGold Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report I love this. Vote comment up 5 5points Vote comment down reply AnnaSalerno AnnaSalerno Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report I'll bet the school would have done this a lot sooner if they had known about it. I know how happy this lady must have been. I earned mine after 14 years having my principal present me with it. I went to night school on and off having lived in Europe for two years in between going to night school in PA and TX having to take my final course from Texas Tech in a correspondence course to get my final credit. I was so proud of myself for sticking to it while raising three children and taking care of a family. It meant the world to me. Vote comment up 3 3points Vote comment down reply person (i think) person (i think) Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report You have the type of drive that is really inspirational to me. Thank you for sharing your story. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Load More Replies... guineapiglover12 guineapiglover12 Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW Vote comment up 1 1point Vote comment down reply Fanchon Anderson Fanchon Anderson Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report I send this article to all those that I come in contact with that are struggling with day to day stuff and trying to go back to school. There's no trying to go back to school. There's only getting there like she did. SHE didn't have a choice back then. But in today's world, there's no excuse there's SOOO many resources to get your diploma, certification, and/or degree plan. Financial aid, state assistance, etc. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Rhon Rhon Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report NO WAY AM I WATCHING THIS VIDEO! I'm in tears after just reading the article. What a precious lady. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply JenniferGorman JenniferGorman Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report My own beloved Gram had to leave high school to help support her family as well. She died almost ten years ago now in her 80's after a stroke took away her ability to speak, but never her spark or ability to fiercely communicate her love for her children and grandchildren and the nursing home's nurses. She would have loved this. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply SusanRiley SusanRiley Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report With all the c**p that's on the Internet, it's great to hear a good story for once! Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply YoseTriarto YoseTriarto Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report There's no other greater joy than receive what we should get it. But sometimes life is so unpredictable. Whatever the reason why the school doing for last 79 years it should be make Mrs Bekema crying from her deep heart. She is very very lucky as a graduated high school diploma. Many students around the world had the same experience-forced to leave the school due to the family matters-but has no opportunity to get their high school diploma certificate ever. Congratulation Mrs Bekema. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply Martin Martin Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Chop, Chop... college awaits, and all the drunk fratboys hitting on you. Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply BrianZhong BrianZhong Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Although this is very touching, I'm wondering why the school decided to do this when she's 97 years old. I mean it took 79 years to get an honorary diploma? Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply AmyBramblette AmyBramblette Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Perhaps no one thought about it until the one relative did it. I doubt the school knew. Vote comment up 4 4points Vote comment down reply Load More Replies... NorwegianTravelers NorwegianTravelers Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report Aww :'( so sad! Vote comment up 0 0points Vote comment down reply samanthaiza samanthaiza Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report its so sad how old she graduated but it was stoposted to be 18 Vote comment up -2 -2points Vote comment down reply samanthaiza samanthaiza Community Member • points posts comments upvotes FollowUnfollow 8 years ago This comment is hidden. Click here to view. DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017 Round attention Svg Vector Icons : http://www.onlinewebfonts.com/icon Report why!? its just ONE SINGLE YEAR!!! 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