99-Year-Old Mom Cheers On 72-Year-Old Son As He Becomes First In Family To Graduate College

A woman in her 90s was in attendance to cheer on and see her 72-year-old son graduate from college.

Children come with increased worry, anxiety and also make for a seemingly endless state of exhaustion for their parents. However, they also bring joy and love to a parent’s life. Most parents want nothing more than for their children to succeed and be happy, including when those children are in their early 70s.

RELATED: Chuck Norris' Mother Turns 102 And Shares The Secret To Staying Young At Heart

Sam Kaplan is now a college graduate, having obtained an undergraduate degree in cinema and media arts from Georgia Gwinnett College, according to the school. Sam is also 72 years old and the first of his seven siblings to earn a degree. 

When Sam walked across the stage to accept his degree, he had someone special in attendance to cheer him on: his 99-year-old mother.

Sam Said His 99-Year-Old Mother Was 'Happy and Proud' About His Accomplishment

Before the ceremony, Sam told the school that his mother would not miss it for the world, was looking forward to it and was beaming with pride over her son’s accomplishment. 

RELATED: Joanna Gaines Gets Brutally Honest About Motherhood

"She’s very excited,” Sam said. “She’s excited, happy and proud.”

Sam’s journey to a college degree came after earning his high school diploma in 1969. When Sam was a high school student and after becoming a high school graduate, he never gave higher education much consideration, according to Fox5. 

Instead, Sam entered the workforce. He has had several jobs. He’s been a taxi driver and worked in customer service for a wholesale distributor of electronics. Sam even ran a telemarketing and a cleaning company. 

Sam is also a writer, being the author of two books. It was Sam’s writing aspirations that ultimately led him to become a college graduate.

"I was riding down the highway and heard on the radio they were offering this degree,” Sam said. The next exit was Collinsville, so I exited off and five minutes later, I was registering for class."

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Mother's Instincts Tell Her Something's Off As She Realizes Her Newborn Looks Nothing Like Her

Sam also added that with his degree, he hopes to turn his books into screenplays. 

We’re sure Sam’s mother was absolutely over the moon to see her child obtain a college degree after all these years. 

Congratulations, Sam!

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." -  Proverbs 1:7

WATCH: 72-Year-Old Sam Kaplan Graduates From College

LISTEN: 6 Generations Of Family Shown In Photo Where Woman Holds Great-Great-Great-Granddaughter

h/t: Georgia Gwinnett College, Fox 5, ABC7

Featured Image Credit: YouTube.com/KPRC 2 Click2Houston