65-Year Old Graduates From College, Read His Touching Story

 A 65-year old Freddie Sherrill has shared his inspiring story with the world upon graduating from college at that age. According to Sherrill, he was unable to read for more than half of his life, quit school at 8, was arrested at 16 and became homeless at 27. In an interview, he said; (At age 8) I would go to the grocery stores and start stealing food and take it home to help my mother and feed my sister and brothers. I was drinking, smoking and shooting cocaine and then I went to heroin. That’s when the bottom fell out. 1998, saw Sherrill trying to take his own life. What saved him was the gun he was going to use didn’t go off. Talking to the Charlotte Observer Freddie said: I couldn’t stop crying. I said the only prayer I knew: ‘God, please help me.’ I was just tired of living. I wanted to die and couldn’t even do that. After this, he picked himself up and got his life back on track. He got married, started a family and learned how to read with the help of volunteers at the Burke County Literacy Council before enrolling in Western Piedmont Community College to earn his G.E.D which he passed after 6 tries. 2009 when Sherrill’s son was getting ready to apply for college, he also did the same thing. ”Finally today I can say that I’m a productive member of society. I haven’t arrived, that’s just part of the journey, and the journey continues on.”  Photo Credit: Queens University