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This was from a speech from someone who was originally admitted to Ewha Womans University in 1956 but didn’t graduate until 2005. It took her 50 years to get her diploma. The above is part of her “love letter” to the college students, but her entire story is pretty inspiring, too.

She got married in her third year there, and at that time, women who were married couldn’t continue schooling. She was also the oldest of seven siblings, so she got married so she could help take care of her family, even though it broke her heart to leave school  But in 2003, the university changed the regulation that expelled students could reapply, and so she did. She faced a lot of discrimination as a woman her age, but she persevered.

Even after she got her degree, she decided to continue learning new things – such as how to play 10 different instruments before she dies. As of 2016 she had learned how to play 7 instruments (even though she may not be the best at them). Her goal is to use those skills to play music for those who are chronically sick and in the hospital so she can bring them some joy.

(Full speech here)