Still Learning After 84 Years
Kelcie Huffstickler
Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: News
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"I just wanted the prestige of the name of the university," she said.
Floyd earned her doctoral degree at the University of Illinois in 1969. Her dissertation was titled "The Effects of a Physical Fitness Program on Physiological and Psychological Measures of Anxiety."
In 1978, Floyd married for the first time at 52 years old. She married Joe Floyd, creator of the commercial printing business Creative Multigraphics on Highland Drive, and moved to Jonesboro.
She worked briefly as a secretary in ASU's speech and drama department and then began pursuing degrees at A-State. She earned a degree in technology and management, a degree in printing, and just last December, Floyd completed a degree in digital media design.
"One of my professors told me it was because of me they started developing this new major," the professional student said about digital media design. "I'm not sure exactly why."
With six degrees under her belt, Floyd is finally starting to slow down. She is currently auditing Audio Production, which means she does not take examinations or receive grades, but simply sits in the class to learn. It is Floyd's second time to audit this class.
"I just want to keep up with the explosion (of technology)," she said. "If I get interested in something, I just have to find out about it."
"Another reason I like to take classes is I like to be with young people," she said. "The people my age, I have nothing in common with."
However, at nearly 85 years old, Floyd is starting to fight medical problems and spends more time at home than at school. "I just love my yard and my house," she said. "I still do my yard work."
Floyd said she never really intended to use any of her latter degrees to pursue careers. The process of learning was always more valuable to her than the degree itself. Her last three degrees were all earned when she was over 60 years old, and tuition was, therefore, completely free.
Floyd's life has been, from beginning to end, about education, and she continues to believe in it today as much as ever. "They can take your life. They can take your friends," she said. "They can take everything away. But they can't take your education away from you."
Floyd said she is unsure whether or not this will be her last class.
Floyd earned her doctoral degree at the University of Illinois in 1969. Her dissertation was titled "The Effects of a Physical Fitness Program on Physiological and Psychological Measures of Anxiety."
In 1978, Floyd married for the first time at 52 years old. She married Joe Floyd, creator of the commercial printing business Creative Multigraphics on Highland Drive, and moved to Jonesboro.
She worked briefly as a secretary in ASU's speech and drama department and then began pursuing degrees at A-State. She earned a degree in technology and management, a degree in printing, and just last December, Floyd completed a degree in digital media design.
"One of my professors told me it was because of me they started developing this new major," the professional student said about digital media design. "I'm not sure exactly why."
With six degrees under her belt, Floyd is finally starting to slow down. She is currently auditing Audio Production, which means she does not take examinations or receive grades, but simply sits in the class to learn. It is Floyd's second time to audit this class.
"I just want to keep up with the explosion (of technology)," she said. "If I get interested in something, I just have to find out about it."
"Another reason I like to take classes is I like to be with young people," she said. "The people my age, I have nothing in common with."
However, at nearly 85 years old, Floyd is starting to fight medical problems and spends more time at home than at school. "I just love my yard and my house," she said. "I still do my yard work."
Floyd said she never really intended to use any of her latter degrees to pursue careers. The process of learning was always more valuable to her than the degree itself. Her last three degrees were all earned when she was over 60 years old, and tuition was, therefore, completely free.
Floyd's life has been, from beginning to end, about education, and she continues to believe in it today as much as ever. "They can take your life. They can take your friends," she said. "They can take everything away. But they can't take your education away from you."
Floyd said she is unsure whether or not this will be her last class.
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