Student of the Year is only 84

November 03, 2009 - (WALB) Here's an inspiring story. An Albany man has been named the Golden Eagle student of the year for the technical system of Georgia. Here's the best part: He's 84-year's old.

Last year, Arthur Jones earned his GED. Now, he's enrolled at Albany Tech working on a diploma for Personal Computer Maintenance. So what does he plan to do when he grows up?

It's fair to say that Arthur Jones is not your traditional college student.  He said, "I'm the oldest person in the class, perhaps the oldest person at the college." At 84, Jones is working on getting a diploma in computer maintenance.

Many people his age, and even decades younger, shy away from technology, but Jones likes to figure out what makes things tick.  "I like to know what makes something move," he said, "makes something operate. I didn't want to buy a car until I knew how to fix it."

And the same was true with computers. That's why he's in school now. But it took a little time to get here. He first had to get his GED, and wanted to inspire his wife to do the same.

Jones said, "I wanted to be an influence to my grandchildren and the children that I see running around the street that's wasting their time and above all, I wanted to be an influence to my wife."

The two started on their journey to get their GEDs together. Sadly, his wife died before she could receive hers. Jones could have given up, but he didn't. After all, too many people were looking up to him.

He said, "You can't keep telling a child you got to do this, you got to do this and do that and you don't do anything yourself, you standing on the sideline." So he stayed in the game.

It's not always easy. "I'm not too proud of my grades," he said.  "Some tests I do good, and a lot of 'em I do bad."

But if all works according to plan, Jones will finish the program in March, with his wife looking down proud. "All smiles, all smiles. She would be all smiles."

And when I asked Arthur Jones what he wanted to do when he grew up, he was all smiles too. "When I grow up, I want to relax. Hahahaha."  Not while watching life pass him by, but by passing along some life lessons during the ride.

Arthur Jones says he plans to finish all his course work and finish up his PC maintenance degree in March. Right now he rebuilds old computers and gives them away to people in need.


By Karen Cohilas

Original story HERE!