Over the years, Lawrenceville, Georgia resident Sam Kaplan has added a lot of items to his portfolio.

However, he added an especially late line item—a college degree—on May 11th, in his 72nd year of life.

Kaplan crossed the stage in cap and gown to accept an undergraduate degree in Cinema and Media Arts from George Gwinnett College beside students who were 50 years his junior.

His mother, who is 99 years old, was present to see everything and gave her best cheer. After graduating

from high school in 1969, Kaplan had never given college any thought. He immediately started working in a variety of capacities.

He first had a cleaning service before moving on to a telemarketing firm, according to the GGC press release.

In addition to being a part-time taxi driver, he worked in customer service for an electronics wholesale distributor. Kaplan declared, ‘I’m the first of my seven siblings to earn a degree.’

‘I heard on the radio that Georgia Gwinnett College was offering a degree that involved script writing while I was driving down 316.’

When I noticed that my car appeared to have automated its steering, I stopped on Collins Hill Road. I was registering for the autumn semester five minutes later.

It wasn’t as simple as one may believe, and at first he had trouble remembering how to study, how to make friends, and all the other things that came with being a student.

He therefore made a commitment to speak with one student each day and inquire about their strategies, aspirations, and classroom management styles.

He claimed that his peers truly opened up during those conversations, which helped him succeed, but he also acknowledged that he had assistance and guidance from his five children.

Kate Balsley, an associate professor of film who taught Kaplan in several semesters, said of him, ‘He’d always participate and would offer advice and assistance to his classmates.’

Sam was constantly happy to offer pictures and anecdotes about his fascinating life and his family. Although we are thrilled for him to graduate, we will miss him.

We won’t be surprised to see his name in the credits of some independent movie in the not-too-distant future given his degree.