97-Year-Old Margaret Thome Bekema never graduated from high school. She left her junior year because her mother, Katherine, was ill with cancer. She had three other siblings, two of whom were very young. Margaret cared for her ailing mother and younger sisters until her mother passed and sisters grew up, but she always wished she’d finished school. She said leaving school at age 17 broke her heart.
“I had to quit school to take over the family. It was hard, you have no idea how hard it was. I loved high school and had lots of friends,” Margaret said.
Despite the disappointment, Margaret cared for her mother until she died. She then went on to start a family of her own, and just never got around to going back to school. Though it seemed an impossible task to navigate, she has held onto the dream for all these years.
In a wonderful turn of events, Margaret was presented with an honorary diploma and a Grand Rapids Central Catholic school varsity letter.
Monica Scott
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart,”Bekema kept telling those responsible.
Monica Scott
Grand Rapids Central Principal Greg Deja added, “her life has been one of sacrifice and service. It has been so encouraging and inspiring for our community because her choices represent all the core values that we teach our students.â€
Monica Scott
Gerri Smith, a Catholic Central graduate and one of Bekema’s two children couldn’t have been happier for her mom, “She is the type of person that whatever life hands her, she just deals with it very graciously,” said Smith. “She does what has to be done and she doesn’t complain about it or make a big deal about it, she just does it.”
Monica Scott
Never stop chasing your dreams! It may not happen the way you’d imagine it, but it’s always worth holding onto the things that bring you life!
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