Learning is Forever and Ever!

Who is the oldest primary school pupil in the world?

That’s a trick question. You see, the person who used to claim that honor died in August 2009. Most likely, none of us in the United States knew him, and, in fact, most people in his own country—Kenya—didn’t know him either. His village, however, was well aware of his student status at the local school, and they admired his love of learning.

Guinness World Record-Holder

The oldest officially recognized pupil was 90 years old. His name was Kimani Nganga Maruge, a great-grandfather who had never had the opportunity to attend school in his poverty-stricken village...until he reached the age of 84. At that time, Kenya instituted free schooling in primary schools, according to BBC News, and Kimani was anxious to learn how to read and do math, so he could read the Bible and keep track of his small pension. He became the oldest person ever to enroll in a primary school.

He did so at Kapkenduywa, where he maintained a stellar attendance record as he worked toward his dream of being a veterinarian someday. Nothing could keep Kimani away from learning. Not the fire that destroyed his home, causing him to be relocated to the city. Not the violence that sometimes shattered the peace of his homeland. Not the cancer that was discovered months before his death.

Kimani believed that, “It’s never too late.” Never too late to achieve a dream. Never too late to challenge yourself beyond your comfort zone to force you to stretch yourself and learn marvelous new things. Never too late to commit yourself to the pursuit of learning, as Kimani did through home studying when he was stricken with his fatal illness. He was two years away from completing elementary school when he died.

Meet Another 90-Something Who Won’t Quit

She’s not a Latina, but she’s powerful, and she represents what we can all become as we age: a vibrant, lifelong learner whose life is never dull because learning never stops. Meet 94-year-old Dr. Marion Downs, who learned skiing at the age of 51, tennis at the age of 68, and skydiving at the age of 90, according to Marion, who is the author of Shut Up and Live!

She exercises her brain as well as her body, and the zest in her long life is a testament to the power of learning forever and ever, whether it’s through her crossword puzzles, playing bridge, or not saying no to new experiences. Though we may not be as intrepid as she is with physical activities, may we all share Marion’s determination to keep learning today and as the years pass!

Various Reasons for Continued Learning

Lifelong learning—currently referred to as “LLL”—is the consistent, dedicated pursuit of knowledge throughout our lives, no matter the field or intensity of the learning.

We engage in LLL for various reasons: to update our professional job skills; to pursue higher education for career advancement; to switch careers and go into a totally different field, as the current economy is forcing many people to do; to keep our minds sharp, so as to ward off dementia and other physical weaknesses that come with aging.

My favorite reasons for LLL, however, are inherent curiosity about life and people, linked to the best reason of all for learning: It is a source of joy and personal fulfillment.

Our global, interconnected society has imbued our lives with so much diversity in all arenas: social, economic, political, artistic. What we used to know for daily living purposes changes rapidly. On a simple level, think about warnings doctors have given us through the years about our diet: caffeine is bad, but now it’s good; alcohol is bad, but wine in moderation is now good; chocolate is bad, but dark chocolate is now good for the heart.

Doctors contradict one another as more and more knowledge, through research and new technologies, floods our airwaves, bookstores, TV news, newspapers, and—an immense driver of the need for LLL—the internet! Simply to know what foods and drinks to consume and what to avoid requires that we constantly learn about new revelations.

The Bottom Line: LLL Enhances the Quality of Life

If even for helping us understand what’s best for our health, LLL has been linked to a higher quality of life by many experts. In addition, according to “The Top 10 Benefits of Lifelong Learning” (based on scientific research since the 1990’s), LLL helps us fully develop our raw talents; opens our minds to better understanding of different ideas; makes us desire further learning; strengthens our wisdom and perspectives on life; stimulate us to be more aware of and involved in our communities; helps us adapt to change, find meaning in our lives, and feel self-fulfilled.

Clearly, lifelong learning enriches our lives and consequently helps us to enrich the lives of others.