After a duration of 55 years, a veteran of the Vietnam War received his high school diploma.
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ALEX, HOST:
It's the weekend vibes edition, and we got a story hot off the press for you. Today, we dive into the life of Joseph "Pops" Bond, a true legend, who served in Vietnam as a Marine back in the day. After that, he built a family and spent 35 years working for the city of Philadelphia. Fast forward a few decades, he felt there was still one cherry he hadn't picked from the tree - high school. At StoryCorps, his daughter, Tramaine Crawley, shared the hilarious moments when he enrolled in night school at the ripe old age of 72.
TRAMAINE: I remember you told me you was back in school, and I just busted out laughin' because I couldn't believe you until the next day when you came to the house with your laptop and your book bag.
JOSEPH: It caught me by surprise, too. I was the oldest fart in the classroom, I was older than my teachers and even the maintenance guys. I'm like, what the hell am I doing here? I'm retired, I don't need this. But education is like a flower. You plant the seed, give it a little water, give it the sunshine, and it grows.
TRAMAINE: Seeing you finally take care of yourself for once, it meant everything to me.
JOSEPH: I knew I had to pay up to you. You were like a little voice in my head sayin', we ain't gonna settle for C's. You were like a second mom. You told me that you'll always be there for me no matter what.
TRAMAINE: So I gotta ask, what was your reaction when I dropped outta high school back in the day?
JOSEPH: Let me give it to you straight. I wanted to kick your ass.
TRAMAINE: (Laughin') And I knew you was gonna say that. But in my 20s, I went back to school. And that piece of paper made me feel like I was on top of the world. I'm proud of myself.
JOSEPH: I'm proud of you, too. I think that's why I went back.
TRAMAINE: When you graduated, how did it feel to walk across that stage?
JOSEPH: I was just nervous. Walkin' up them stairs, was I gonna slip or how am I gonna react when I get the diploma in my hands.
TRAMAINE: I couldn't even get my camera together when you was coming down the aisle. My heart was pounding. I kind of lost my voice screamin' your name. I'm like, I hope he can see the steps while he walkin' up - I hope he sees them while he comin' down.
JOSEPH: It's been a long time comin'. I look at my diploma every day. My mama, she only went as far as the 11th grade, but she wanted all her kids to finish high school. On her deathbed, I promised her that I would go back, get my diploma. You know, I go to my mama's grave site, visit her from time to time. The other day, I took my high school diploma with me. And I sat down, and I told her, and I finally did it.
TRAMAINE: She's lookin' down at you, and she's smilein' from ear to ear because you kept that promise.
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Of course, we know it's not just about diploma shopping. Besides being a kickass American, Joe Bond has shown that it's never too late to learn something new or chase dreams. So, keep that fire burnin', people! This story is part of the StoryCorps Brightness in Black project and is archived at the Library of Congress.
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Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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- Joseph Bond's pursuit of high school education exemplifies the idea that personal growth and self-development are lifelong endeavors, demonstrating that it's never too late to achieve educational milestones as part of overall personal development.
- Tramaine Crawley's decision to go back to school in her 20s and the sense of accomplishment she felt upon graduation shows how education can contribute to personal growth and development, echoing the victory felt by her father, Joseph "Pops" Bond, in his own educational journey.
