At the age of 78, Thomas Goodwin may very well be the oldest student at Raymond Walters College, but by no means is that hindering his pursuit of a college degree. Mr. Goodwin is currently carrying nine credit hours as a part-time student. You might ask why a 78-year old man is going to college. He should be in Florida, relaxing in the sun and enjoying his retirement, not studying for midterms and doing homework. After talking to Mr. Goodwin, I found him very inspiring and gained a better understanding of why he decided to go back to school.
“I always had a desire to increase my learning. Beyond that I had the aspiration of being a writer one of these days. I thought to myself that I needed education in whatsoever I was trying to convey to anybody, and I could do it more properly if I was better educated. But I had so many people in the university here and others say that I don’t need to go to school to become a writer and that there are a lot a writers who never went to university to write and they are good ones. I thought about that, but I still didn’t feel like I was properly educated to do the serious type writing I wanted to do with research and what-not, knowing more about what I’m saying. That’s the way it is with me.”
Mr. Goodwin said that one of the most disappointing periods in his life occurred when he had to leave school as a young teen to find work. “I was told at the age of 15 (I was only in the third grade then) that I had to stop going to school and find work to help support the family and that I did.”
At the age of 18 he joined the Army and took all the classes he could and learned a trade. He retired from GM in 1986 after working 30 years on the job and earned his GED the next year in 1987. He’s an extremely religious man with great knowledge of the Bible and African history. He’s also an honorary Bishop with the House of Jacob and has been in the ministry since 1946. He also talked about visiting Africa one day and being inspired by the famous historian Henry Louis Gates. Mr. Goodwin is married with eight children-two girls and six boys. He is very proud of all his children. His eldest son, Simeon, has a doctorate from Yale. Another son graduated from the University of Cincinnati, and one child tragically drowned to death.
Mr. Goodwin is determined to accomplish his goal of getting a degree in English and refuses to listen to the naysayers, even if it’s a professor, his wife, or one of his children. Lightly joking about his family’s support for his college pursuits, Mr. Goodwin said, “I got the idea that either they are ashamed of me for trying this or just want me to take it easy. My son is always telling me to relax and not do so much, and my wife doesn’t want any part of it and some of my teachers, who are very nice, told me I don’t need a degree.
“If my example could do anything to encourage our young people to be more educated, that would make me very happy.”
So, if you see Thomas Goodwin walking the halls of RWC with his book bag rolling behind, you are seeing proof that it’s never too late to go after the things your heart and mind desire and you are never too old to go back to school.