VOA慢速英语：弗吉尼亚州的夏洛茨维尔大学的70岁毕业生 2014-06-21

70-Year-Old Graduate Proves It's Never Too Late

From VOA Learning English, this is As It Is. I'm Anna Matteo in Washington.

Many schools across the United States hold graduation ceremonies this time of year. College and university graduations are especially happy celebrations. With degrees in hand, graduates start a new and important part of their lives.

This is especially true for Jerry Reid. He graduated this year from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville with a bachelor's degree. Wearing a UVA t-shirt, backpack and a boyish smile, he looks like most of the students on campus.

Except for his gray hair.

You see, Jerry Reid is 70 years old.

And he says he did not just want a degree. He says he wanted to have the full college experience that he did not have as a younger man.

So, Mr. Reid joined the "Hoo Crew," a group that cheers loudly for the school at sports events.

He also joined a fraternity, a men's group on campus.

He went to bars and sang drinking songs along with many other students.

"From Rugby Hill to Vinegar Mill, we're gonna' get drunk tonight."

Mr. Reid is popular on campus.

"He's the coolest 70-year-old I know."

His age does not seem to make any difference.

About a half-century ago, in his 20s, Mr. Reid was not in school. Instead, he was racing cars and chasing girls. But he says his friend Bill invited him to UVA parties.

"Bill Sturman just told me what a screw-up I was, that there was no way I'd ever make anything out of my life unless I came up here and went to school with him."

That was in 1963. Jerry Reid says it took him 48 years to take that advice. In 2011, he entered college. His last examination before graduation involved the Civil War general for the South, Stonewall Jackson.

"Our next speaker is Jerry Reid."

"His (Stonewall Jackson's) blunders were not as large as his enemy's in most cases...and astounding luck remained on his side."

UVA Professor Luke Wright says Mr. Reid influenced students. Professor Wright says he opened the minds of the young adults. The teacher says Mr. Reid showed them "that life does not end at 40."

Quite the opposite, the 70-year-old college graduate believes that getting older can be the beginning of a dream. He advises others that it is never too late to try to make the life you have always wanted.

"Remember that path that you left waits for you. It's there. It's yours. All you gotta' do is get out of your own way and get back to it. And that's exactly what I did."

Mr. Reid says that he and his wife Susan now will take some time off to enjoy his college degree. Then he will return to UVA to begin studying for his graduate degree. But before he does that, he says he and his wife still have more graduation parties to go to.

I'm Anna Matteo.

Is there a path in life that you would like to get back on? Let us know in our comment section where you can practice your English.

词汇解析

drunk

难度：5星基本词汇，属常用1000词

英汉解释

adj.醉酒的;陶醉的

n.醉鬼;醉酒

动词drink的过去分词形式.

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

He was obviously drunk.

他显然是醉了。

用作名词 (n.)

Several drunks lay on the floor.

好几个醉汉躺在地板上。

general

难度：5星基本词汇，属常用1000词

英汉解释

adj.普遍的;全面的;一般性的;大致的;笼统的;常规的;总的;首席的

n.将军;一般

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

The announcement was met with general rejoicing.

该项宣布受到普遍的欢迎。

用作名词 (n.)

The general is a respectable man.

那位将军是个令人肃然起敬的人物。

comment

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.注释;评论;闲话

v.评论;注释

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The comment is recorded in the event log.

此注释将记录在事件日志中。

用作动词 (v.)

He commented that it was an excellent film.

他评论这电影很精彩。