99-Year Old Man Graduates from College

Leo Plass is a 99 year old man in Oregon who just got a college degree, like, last week. Yes, he's awesome. Just when I thought that at 99, I'd be watching Jersey Shore reruns with some chips and dip, Plass goes and reminds me of what's really important...an education.

Leo Plass was 3-hours away from graduating with a teaching degree in 1932, but then the Depression hit. In a matter of years, people across the country were laid off from jobs in construction and farming, and families struggled to keep food in their homes. This was one of the few times in recent history when the pursuit of survival trumped the pursuit of an education. With his uncertain future as a teacher, Plass took an opportunity at a logging outfit for a lucrative $150. "That was a  lot of money - a lot of money," said Plass about his decision to forgo an education for a livable wage.

But with 80 years of life experience, and a little extra free time, Plass decided that now was the time to go back and get that degree that eluded him just before the war. And just last week, the near-centenarian walked across the stage with an associate's degree from Easter Oregon University. Of the honor, he stood in shock saying "I never dreamed of something like this happening to me  - it's out of this world."

In the midst of America's current economic struggle, so many of our peers are facing the options that Plass faced in the 30s - opting for what's necessary now versus what may may best for their futures - a paycheck instead of an education. In 2010, just over 2/3 of high school students made the leap to college, and that's in the richest country in the world. With the job market the hardest it's ever been, and networks becoming stronger than ever ("who you know" counts), the need for an education has never been greater.

If you're foregoing college because of financial difficulties, there are scholarships out there. If you're staying away because high school was kinda boring, it's likely that you'll find more interesting subjects to explore in college (trust me, I had the same problem). Head to MTV's Get Schooled for more on how to get help, and for what to expect from your next stage in life. Because chips, dip and the Jersey Shore sound kind of enticing at 99, after all. Hell, you deserve it, you got that degree!