CALEDONIA—It’s thanks to a Haldimand Press article that Doris Young can officially say that she’s a high school graduate.
When reporter Olivia Snyder was interviewing Young for an article to mark her 100th birthday, Snyder asked the centenarian what her biggest regret in life was. Young said it was that she hadn’t been able to graduate from high school.
One of Young’s daughters, Ruthanne Spence, explained how Young’s asthma was exacerbated by a severe chalk dust allergy. In her final year of high school, Young was out sick the month of January, which she worked hard to make up for back in class, but when she fell sick again in May, and that stretched into June, “she didn’t get caught up enough to write her exams,” Spence said. This meant Young couldn’t graduate.
Kathy Adams, also Young’s daughter, knew her mom didn’t graduate but said, “I never thought it was that important to her” until she mentioned it in the interview.
Once the family realized how much it meant to Young, Spence, a retired teacher with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board, got to work. Since Spence had spent many years working in the Student Services department, which in part works to remove barriers for students to help them successfully learn and eventually graduate, she was confident something could happen.
“Today, so many stops are pulled out to help students graduate,” Spence said, noting if her mom had been in high school today, she wouldn’t have encountered chalk dust in the first place, and even if she was sick and unable to attend class in person, there would be options for virtual study, and/ or she would be able to sit her exams at a different time.
“I saw an opportunity to fulfill the dream of another potential graduate,” Spence said, adding that age wasn’t a concern.
She contacted her former colleague, Kevin Graham, Superintendent of Education with Grand Erie District School Board (GEDSB), and a short while later, got word back that the graduation was a go.
Spence said when she told her mom what was happening, “this look of disbelief and joy came over her face.”
On May 21 there was a special commencement ceremony held at River Heights Elementary School, which had been the high school in 1943 when Young was supposed to graduate.
During the ceremony, Spence noted that for a high school graduation, “May is a little bit early in most situations,” however, “in this case, it’s about 80 years late.”
Young, clad in the blue cap and gown that her fellow scholars wore, said, “I never thought they’d go to all this” as she took in the crowd of well-wishers, the balloons, and her diploma. “The right person got working on it, I guess.”
Young said that while her life had its ups and downs, “I’ve got lots of good memories; that’s all that matters now.… This is a day I’ll never forget.”
She added that she hoped her graduating at the age of 100 would encourage those who are still in school now.
“Get your education; it’s far more important now,” she said.
When presenting Young with her diploma, GEDSB Director of Education JoAnna Roberto said, “Doris, you have exemplified what it means to have many accomplishments in life.”
She noted that when students graduate, it’s common to wish them the best for their future, but in Young’s case, “Your future is here; you’re surrounded by your children, your grandchildren, your great-grandchildren.”
Susan Gibson, Chair of GEDSB, added that Young “exemplifies the value of lifelong education.… Your journey inspires us all.”
