81-year-old man finally earns bachelors degree from US university 63 years after dropping out due to school fees.
81-year-old, Carlos Manuel Sera has fulfilled a lifelong dream by earning his bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University—63 years after financial hardship forced him to leave college just four credits short of graduating.
Sera began his studies at Georgetown in 1955, the son of a Cuban diplomat with a bright future ahead. But in 1959, the Cuban Revolution affected his family. His father lost his position, income, and pension, leaving Sera with no choice but to drop out and support his family.
For decades, Sera built a successful international business career, raised a family, and became a grandfather. But the regret of not finishing his degree lingered. “Not finishing was always there,” he said.
Everything changed in January 2023, when his granddaughter, Vanessa Weitzman, toured Georgetown as a prospective student.
Curious about his time at the university, she asked questions that prompted Sera to reveal the truth to his family. His daughter, Mayte, reached out to Georgetown to explore the possibility of completing his degree.
The university responded enthusiastically, offering Sera the chance to take his final course, Federal Income Taxation, remotely from his home in Houston. Under the guidance of Professor Thomas Cooke, Sera completed the course with an A grade.
In 2028, surrounded by his family, Sera watched the Georgetown Commencement ceremony via a remote connection. When his name was called, he stood proudly as Dean Paul Almeida addressed him directly.
“Carlos, we know you’re watching from Houston. We are tremendously proud of you and your lifetime of accomplishments. While you have always been a Hoya, today we make it official.” Paul said.
Despite his fragile health, Sera said it was important to him not to stay seated when his name was called. “I stood up,” Sera said.
“This was the way to do it. So I stood up and I said thank you to the Big Boss for everything. You know you’ve got to be grateful for little things, because they add up to big things as time goes on,” he added.
