Despite pandemic challenges, 70-year-old woman graduates from Coastal Bend College

When Mary Ann De Los Santos, 70, decided to pursue a college degree, she didn't expect virtual learning to be a part of the experience.

But despite the pandemic, she graduated from Coastal Bend College with an associate degree in early childhood education on Wednesday.

"It's something I wanted to do all my life," she said.

Mary Ann De Los Santos always wanted to continue her education. Over the years, she started programs and took classes from time to time, but life often got in the way. She tried out dental school and beauty school.

"Moms — they forfeit things they would like to do in order to make sure their children and their families have they things they need," son Raynaldo De Los Santos said.

She has always instilled a love for learning in her family, Raynaldo De Los Santos said.

"Mom was the type of mom where I knew my ABCs and 123s by the time I went to school," he said. "She was the kind of mom who would do flashcards with you and help you after dinner."

While raising her family in Corpus Christi, Mary Ann De Los Santos worked in a day care program, eventually starting her own in-home day care.

"When I started working with children, that was it for me," she said. "That there was my calling."

Now retired with her children grown, she decided to earn the credentials for the work that has been her passion for years.

Raynaldo De Los Santos remembers getting a call from his mother in 2017, when she told him she was considering Coastal Bend College. He recalls her wondering if it would be odd for a student of her age to be in the classroom, but he reassured her.

He was certain that the other students would look to her for inspiration and that the professors would respect her experience.

That did end up happening. She recalls times when a professor would share something with the class and then turn to her to ask if the lesson lined up with her experience.

Mary Ann De Los Santos now lives in rural Orange Grove. She attended classes at Coastal Bend's Alice campus and, when the pandemic hit, often continued driving to Alice so that she could connect to the internet for virtual learning.

"It was a challenge, but I had my mind on that degree," she said. "I said, 'I'm going to do it.'"

In 2019, the average age of a Coastal Bend student was 20.

Coastal Bend College Dean of Student Services and Accessibility Kayla Devora-Jones said more than half of the college's students come through dual-enrollment programs at area high schools, but that the college also offers opportunities for adult learners.

She said the college encourages non-traditional students to seek out education, keeping track of their progress and helping students who have to leave before their degree is completed make plans to return.

Students who are 65 or older are eligible for a tuition waiver that can cover up to six credits a semester. The waiver can also be used for continuing education and enrichment courses.

Mary Ann De Los Santos is planning on continuing her education by pursuing a bachelor's degree at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

"She's strong, she's smart, she's even beautiful," Raynaldo De Los Santos said. "I guess every child thinks that about their mom, but I think my mom is a little more of all of those things."

She hopes that others considering returning to school later in life are encouraged.

"It's never too late to boost your education," she said.

Olivia Garrett reports on education and community news in South Texas. Contact her at olivia.garrett@caller.com. You can support local journalism with a subscription to the Caller-Times. 

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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Despite pandemic challenges, 70-year-old earns associate degree