CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A local man is proving no matter how old you are, it's never too late to get your diploma.
Pursing higher education can come with its challenges, and for Ricardo Gonzalez, college came to a halt when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.
However, when his service was finished, he decided to go back to school.
Gonzalez was able to take classes in California, here at Del Mar College and also at Houston Community College.
And that's when Gonzalez received the news he was waiting for at the age of 72.
“In Houston, the Chancellor and registrars office they asked me if I wanted to merge the college hours in Corpus Christi with the college hours in Houston," he said. "I sent them the transcripts and then they evaluated and they gave me my associate's degree in liberal arts.”
Gonzalez said he encourages other veterans to pursue their education, showing how age makes no difference.
“I’m very, very excited that after so many years I got my degree,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said after he gets his associate's, he wants to get his bachelor's and then move toward earning his master’s in journalism.