PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A 77-year-old Vietnam veteran graduated Tuesday with the class of 2024 from Commonwealth Charter Academy.
It was 1965, the United States was ten years into the Vietnam War, and 17-year-old Robert Toporek dropped out of high school in Charleston, South Carolina, to join the military.
In the heat of the combat zone, Toporek still managed to pass his GED test. Unbeknownst to him, his certificate was never completed.
“For 59 years I thought I had my GED, but I found the paperwork recently and I read the back of it and they said, ‘This is not your GED. This is just confirmation that you passed the test. must get your GED from your Department of Education,” Toporek said.
On Tuesday night, at the age of 77, Toporek finally achieved that long-awaited goal.
With his cap and gown in place, Toporek walked through the Liacouras Center tunnel and received his diploma from the Commonwealth Charter Academy along with hundreds of significantly younger, yet fellow graduates.
Despite earning the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his bravery in Vietnam, writing two books and being an early childhood education expert, Toporek said he has missed many opportunities because he did not have a high school diploma had.
“There is more to do and this degree will help me do that,” he said.
While delivering a speech to the class of 2024, Toporek used his own journey to graduation as a teaching moment.
“Never let your failures stop you from following your dreams,” Torporek said. “If I hadn’t followed my dream, I wouldn’t be here talking to you today.”
