Great-Grandmother who didn't go to High School Graduates from Uni at the Age of 73


Sharon Sutton's Inspiring Story of Perseverance, Lifelong Learning, and Graduating from University in her 70s

Sharon Sutton grew up in poverty and had to start working at the age of 12, which prevented her from attending high school. Despite the challenges she faced, Sutton never stopped learning and dreaming of going to university one day. At the age of 73, she is now a great-grandmother and a university graduate. This article tells the inspiring story of Sharon Sutton's perseverance, lifelong learning, and achievement of graduating from university in her 70s.

Growing up in Poverty and Early Work Life

Sharon Sutton's childhood was marked by poverty, which forced her to attend primary school barefoot and prevented her from attending high school. She started working in a clothing factory at the age of 12, which would be considered a sweatshop today. Despite these challenges, Sutton never stopped learning and dreaming of going to university one day. She loved primary school and wanted to become a history and geography teacher.

Years of Hard Work and Raising a Family

Sutton's life took her and her husband to the outback for 40 years, where they worked on a remote cattle station in western Queensland. During this time, Sutton raised her children and taught some of them through distance education. While this satisfied her teaching urge to some extent, Sutton still dreamt of going to university.

Reviving the Dream of Studying

After retiring, Sutton pledged to revive her dream of studying and enrolled at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She studied a Bachelor of Arts part-time, majoring in English and minoring in history and Indigenous studies. Sutton admits that she knew nothing about academic writing when she started, but she was determined to see whether she could handle university studies.

Navigating University Life and Technology Demands

Sutton navigated university life, which included being surrounded by much younger people in her classes. She also had to grapple with the technology demands of university life. PowerPoint presentations were an absolute nightmare, but Sutton always got over the line with the content. She also battled her way through submitting her first assignment and wondering whether it was going into the black hole of technology.

Graduating with Flying Colours

Despite the challenges, Sutton graduated with flying colours. She achieved high distinctions and distinctions in many subjects and assignments. Sutton's achievement is remarkable, particularly given that she graduated from university at the age of 73. She felt proud of herself for navigating university life, and her lived experience and avid reading helped her succeed.

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