An 84-year-old World War II survivor even in her wildest dreams must not have thought that she could receive her high school diploma some day. Maria Tudela Tenorio from Guam received a surprise honorary high school diploma last week, in the presence of her family.
Also read: Japanese boy Itsuki Morita, 6, becomes world's youngest club DJ; wouldn't Avicii be proud?
Maria received an honorary diploma from the George Washington High School about 65 years after she was actually supposed to graduate. Her dreams of earning a diploma were shattered when Japan invaded Guam in 1941. She was in the second grade then.
"They rode on a truck to Barrigada after the bombing, then were forced to walk to Talofofo and then to Manengon. Her parents decided to settle in Talofofo village after the war," USA Today quoted her family as saying. While she went on to study till the eighth standard Talofofo and even was a valedictorian of her class, she couldn't continue her education after that.
"After that, however, her Nana refused for her daughter to continue with her education," the family added.
When her family realised that Maria really had wanted to finish education at one point of time, her youngest daughter Anita Tenorio applied for the honorary diploma for her mother. "If she had the opportunity to continue her education, she would have made an excellent teacher and administrator," her daughter told the website. "Maria Atoigue Tudela Tenorio deserves to own this high school diploma. The energy, guidance and sacrifices she gave for her 11 children's career and degree successes prove this."
While she couldn't complete her education due to the war and the economic crisis, her children seem to be living her dream. All her 11 children have graduated from high school. Five of them received college degrees and also went on to pursue their masters.
Maria isn't the only World War II survivor in Guam to receive a high school diploma years later. Cecilia Santos Yatar became the oldest World War II survivor to receive a high school diploma on May 12. She is 92.
"It was very apparent to her teachers that Cecilia was an excellent student who excelled in her studies and even competed in the school spelling bee competition. An unknown fact until recently, Cecilia's only surviving sibling, Francisco Cruz, shared how Cecilia was the most fluent in the English language of all her siblings and served as family spokesperson when necessary," the family told USA Today.
