An 87-Year-Old College Student Named Rose
On the first day of class, our professor asked us to meet someone we didn’t already know. As I stood up to look around, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. Turning around, I saw a tiny, wrinkled old lady smiling at me with a warmth that lit up her whole face.
“Hi, handsome,” she said. “My name is Rose. I’m eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?”
I laughed and replied, “Of course!” She wrapped me in the biggest hug.
Curious, I asked, “So why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?”
With a playful grin she answered, “I’m here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids.”
When I pressed her seriously, she said, “I’ve always dreamed of getting a college education—and now I finally am.”
From that day on, Rose and I became close friends. After class we’d share chocolate milkshakes and long conversations. For months, I was captivated by her wisdom, humor, and stories. Soon, Rose became a campus celebrity—she dressed beautifully, loved the attention, and spread joy everywhere she went.
At the end of the semester, Rose was invited to speak at our football banquet. As she stepped to the podium, she fumbled her note cards and laughed at herself, saying, “I’m sorry, I’m so nervous. I gave up beer for Lent, and this whiskey is killing me! I’ll never get these cards back in order, so let me just tell you what I know.”
Here’s what Rose shared with us that night:
• “We don’t stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.”
• “There are four keys to staying young, happy, and successful: laugh every day, keep your dreams alive, embrace change, and live without regrets.”
• “Anybody can grow older—it takes no talent. But to truly grow up, you must keep finding opportunities in life.”
• “The elderly don’t regret what they did; they regret what they didn’t do. The only people who fear death are those who live with regrets.”
She ended her speech by singing “The Rose,” leaving everyone in tears and inspired.
At the end of the year, Rose proudly graduated with her long-awaited degree. Just a week later, she passed away peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand students attended her funeral—proof of the incredible impact she had made.
Rose’s life was a reminder to us all:
👉 Growing older is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
👉 We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
