It’s never too late to chase your dreams—and 72-year-old Sam Kaplan is living proof. Recently, Sam proudly graduated from Georgia Gwinnett College with a degree in Cinema and Media Arts. What made the day even more memorable was sharing the milestone with his 99-year-old mother, who beamed with pride as she watched her son walk across the stage.

The road to graduation wasn’t an easy one. After finishing high school in 1969, Sam put aside education to focus on making a living. Over the decades, he worked a wide variety of jobs: running a cleaning service, managing a telemarketing company, handling customer service for an electronics wholesaler, and even driving cars to pay the bills.

Then, one day while driving, he heard a radio segment about a college offering a degree in scriptwriting. The idea sparked something inside him. Not long after, he found himself at Georgia Gwinnett College, enrolling in classes for the fall semester.

At first, adjusting to college life wasn’t easy—especially being older than most of his peers. But instead of letting the age gap discourage him, Sam embraced it. He made it his mission to connect with classmates and professors by starting conversations, asking about their goals, and sharing encouragement.

Through persistence and determination, Sam pushed forward year after year until he finally earned his degree. His journey has become an inspiration to many, proving that age is no barrier to education, growth, or following your passion.

As Sam stood at graduation, degree in hand and his proud mother in the audience, his story became a reminder to us all: it’s never too late to learn, to grow, and to achieve something you’ve always dreamed of.