Student shows it's never too late to fulfill dreams

By ASHTON REELY opinions editor

The Bison, Friday March 27, 2009

Picture your average college student for a mo­ment. Worn-out jeans, that favorite university sweatshirt. Let's not forget the bad hair day baseball cap and the year-round Chacos. Now picture your aver­age 77-year-old woman. Having lived a long, very productive life, per­haps she is enjoying re­tirement. Bunko parties have replaced the study parties of her youth and the Red Hat Society is her new social club. When the two worlds collide, however, you have the witty, spunky Ms. Betty Fulop.

 

While most women her age are settling down into leisurely retirements, Ms. Betty is just now picking up the pace and fulfilling her lifelong dream of ob­taining a college degree. Ms. Betty began her college journey at the age of 26, but she found it hard, as a widow and mother to three young sons, to balance school with matters at home. When her sons grew older, she attended a few community colleges in her native northern Ida­ho, but always dreamed of one day attending Harding University if she was ever given the opportunity.

 

Abusive marriages and family heartache are struggles that have been woven into Ms. Betty's life. Sometimes, how­ever, it is the caged bird that has been set free that flies the highest and sings the sweetest song. A general studies major, Ms. Betty intends to return to northern Idaho after graduation and work with others who have grown up in abusive relationships. Before she gradu­ates next spring, Ms. Betty is getting the opportunity to study in Italy with the Harding University in Florence (HUF) program. Arts and humanities being her favorite area of study, she said she can't wait to see artwork and statues that she has read about in textbooks come to life. A smile lights her face when the topic of living with college students for a semester comes up in conversation. She de­scribes herself as a very private person who likes her "alone time," but said she is open and ex­cited about the prospect of something new.

 

The love she has for Harding students was written on her face and heard in her voice as she talked about the friend­ships she has formed and hopes to form in the future. "One young man," she joked, "always has his arms wide open when he sees me. All I have to do is walk into a great big hug." Ms. Betty is one friend that students would be wise to listen to, for she has soaked up 77 years of life lessons. College students, she said, need to have a vision for their future. She said that's why she wandered around for so long in uncertainty—because she didn't have a plan.

 

"[College students] need to set a worthy goal and then pray about it and pray that God will help them do what they need to do to reach their goal. One of the most worthy goals is to get your life straight with God."

 

What about finding that job after gradua­tion?

 

"Be sure to do some­thing you love. Don't get into a job or career that you don't like doing. Make sure it is some­thing you enjoy doing because then you'll do a great job."

 

Her advice doesn't just apply to college students. She also chal­lenges those her age to never stop dreaming — if goals haven't been met, don't be afraid to rise up and face them, no matter your age.

 

The next time you see Ms. Betty walking around campus, with her large backpack and million-dollar smile, remember that it's never too late to seize an opportunity. Even Ms. Betty still has miles to go: she still plans on continuing her mission trips to Panama and in­tends to take a Spanish class when she returns to Idaho.

 

Someone once said, "The great awareness comes slowly, piece by piece. The path of spiritual growth is a path of lifelong learn­ing. The experience of spiritual power is basi­cally a joyful one." Like Ms. Betty, we should all strive to better ourselves and become lifelong learners.

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