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Alex Cabrero ReportingFor many, the school year is just getting started. For others who took summer classes, it's finally ending. For one woman, finally is an understatement; she's getting her degree more than 60 years after she started taking classes.
When BYU has its summer graduation later this week, not too many students will have the story Betty West has. She had to stop taking classes, in part, because her husband was off fighting the war and she had to watch their children. He wasn't in the Iraq war though, it was World War II.
Betty West: "My oldest son and some of his grandchildren."
As always, Betty West would much rather talk about her family, but that's only because she still can't believe people are interested in her story. At 85-years old, she's getting her bachelors degree, after her daughter talked her into it a couple of years ago.
Betty West, Graduating BYU: "The main regret is that I didn't finish college, and so she said, ‘It isn't too late,' and I thought it was."
It wasn't. She began taking classes at BYU in 1938, but marriage, kids, and World War II took up too much time, making college less of a priority. When her husband died a few year ago, she wanted something to fill her time with, and gave finishing college a try.
Betty West: "I thought, ‘Well, if I pass the first one, but I didn't really think I'd pass the first course. But I passed it, so then I had to keep going."
She passed algebra, earth sciences and anatomy, but she thought the toughest part would be fitting in with her classmates.
Betty West: "I was nervous because I thought these young people will say, ‘What's this old lady doing in here?' And I expected them to totally ignore me."
But she fit in just fine and made new friends. Now, she's graduating and can't wait.
Betty West: "It's gonna be a relief. Ha ha! I don't have to study! I spent hours studying. You wouldn't believe how many hours. I bet, oh, I don't know how many hours."
Betty also says the college courses are a lot harder these days than in the past, and sending homework using the Internet? She stuck to the good old fashioned post office. She says it works.
