Stories of Achieving Dreams after 40
A prevailing notion persists that only those who achieve success early in their chosen field deserve recognition. Although determining one’s passion while young and excelling at it is admirable, the truth is that it’s never too late to achieve your dreams. Pursuing your aspirations and achieving excellence can happen at any stage in life.
@muranofiction Tweets, I’m exhausted with the under 40 lists. Instead, show me a person who obtained a Ph.D. at 60 years old following a devastating loss.
“I get tired of “under 40” lists. Show me someone who got their Ph.D. at 60 after losing everything. Give me the 70-year-old debut novelist who writes from a lifetime of love and grief. Give me calloused hands and tender hearts”.
If you’re disheartened by the number of years that passed and your perceived lack of accomplishments, look at these courageous people. They’ll uplift your spirits.
From Stroke to Somersaults
A tweeter user @DannyDangeroz shares her story of how she suffered a stroke in 2006 that continues to affect her, she took up adult gymnastics at the age of 51 with no prior experience. She was twenty years older than the next oldest student and was overweight and out of shape. But still, she manages to achieve it.
“Not skateboarding but – Had a stroke in 2006 that still affects me. Last year at 51 I started adult gymnastics with no previous gymnastics experience. 20 years older than the next oldest student. Overweight and unfit. Did my first unassisted forward somersault last Dec”
A Proud Moment for My Mom and Dad
Another tweeter user @Mark_Dmckinney shares that my mom spent decades sketching blueprints on napkins while accompanying my diplomat father on his postings. However, in her 60s, she earned her architecture degree. My retired dad was immensely proud of her and threw her an extravagant party to celebrate her graduation.
“After decades of doodling plans on napkins as she followed my diplomat father from one posting to the next my mom got her architecture degree in her 60s. My retired dad was ferociously proud of her and threw an epic party for her graduation”
Overcoming Loss and Reaching New Heights
@janjowen shares that after my husband’s passing at 48, I pursued my dream of obtaining my bachelor’s degree which I accomplished by 50. Determined to take it a step further, I began graduate school at 51 and graduated just before my 54th birthday. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, I then embarked on a new journey by starting my very own counseling private practice and launching a brand new career.
“My husband died when I was 48. I finished my bachelor’s at 50 and started grad school at 51. I graduated at almost 54. Then I started a counseling private practice. So- new degree, new business, new career”
My Mother-in-Law’s Journey to Becoming a Litigator
@krisLefcoe shares her mother-in-law’s inspirational story that at the age of 78, my mother-in-law decided to enroll in law school. She eventually took the NY Bar, however, her first attempt at the exam was not successful. Not to give up, she studied harder and gave it another shot. On the day the results were announced, she brought a suitcase packed with law books. As it turned out, her hard work paid off– she had passed! At the age of 80, she became a litigator.
“My mother-in-law went to law school at 78. Took the NY Bar. Failed. Studied harder and took it again. Brought a suitcase of law books to check the results, ready to start studying to take the Bar a 3rd time if necessary. But she’d passed. She became a litigator at the age of 80”
A Remarkable Meeting with a Native Women
@piranhabrianna shares that while pursuing my graduate degree, I had the privilege of meeting a remarkable Native woman who was in her early 90s. She had enrolled in a linguistics Ph.D. program in her late 80s with the intention of preserving her tribe’s language.
“In grad school and met a Native woman in her early 90s who started her linguistics Ph.D. program in her late 80s in order to preserve her tribe’s language, she said many people in her family live in their 100s so it was as good a time as any and she years left to do the work
Achieving a Ph.D. at 50
This is an example of confidence @trebornotrub tweets
“I got my Ph.D. at 50 something after failing at school and working in factories and building sites. I was the first in my working-class family to go to university”.
