‘Completely lost’: 71-year-old grandfather graduates from SUSS with multiple distinctions after initial struggles

Mr Wong Yee Keong shares with CNA how he fulfilled a lifelong dream after a “painful and frustrating” start to his university journey.

Mdm Yeo Siew Guk helping Mr Wong Yee Keong adjust his graduation hat at an outdoor garden at the Suntec City Convention & Exhibition Centre on the day of his graduation, Oct 13, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Alyssa Tan)

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SINGAPORE: For much of his life, Mr Wong Yee Keong thought that enrolling in a university was an "impossible dream".

After completing secondary school, he joined Keppel Shipyard as an apprentice and climbed the ranks to become a marine engineering manager over a career spanning more than 40 years.

But even as he built a successful career and raised a family, his ambition to earn a university degree never faded.

Now, at 71, the father of two and grandfather of three has fulfilled that dream, graduating from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) with a bachelor's degree in Chinese language and literature on Tuesday (Oct 13).

He is the university’s oldest graduate this year and one of nine retirees graduating.

However, there are two people he wishes could see his achievements: his late parents.

"When I was accepted into SUSS, one of the first things I did was go to my parents' niche at Bright Hill Temple and tell them," Mr Wong told CNA in Chinese.

"I can't wait to tell them I've graduated with a degree. Even though they’re no longer here, I feel that I’ve fulfilled that wish for them."

Mr Wong grew up with five siblings. His parents worked hard to provide for the family.

After finishing his secondary school education, he joined Keppel Shipyard, where he worked for more than 40 years.

Even while building his career and raising a family, he continued learning through technical and vocational courses and took the A-Level examination.

After retiring in 2019, he enrolled in a diploma programme and later volunteered at a community organisation.

Then, in 2022, Mr Wong read about a SUSS graduate in his 70s.

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Mr Wong Yee Keong posing in front of the now-demolished National Theatre when he was aged 20. (Photo: Wong Yee Keong)

Mr Wong Yee Keong, 71, is Singapore University of Social Sciences' (SUSS) oldest graduate in 2026. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Language and Literature. (Photo: CNA/Syamil Sapari)

“Back then, I was in my late 60s. I thought to myself, why not give it a try too," he said.

His first application was unsuccessful, but he wrote to the head of department asking for another chance. The next day, he received a call with advice on how to strengthen his application.

Mr Wong then enlisted his family's help to find and scan educational certificates he had accumulated over the decades.

"When I learnt I was accepted into the programme, I jumped in joy. I was one step to achieving a lifelong dream that I thought would have been impossible at my age."

Returning to school brought new challenges.

He had never learnt Hanyu Pinyin and struggled to type Chinese on a computer.

As a result, he scored a D+ in his first examination.

"I was completely lost. Every student around me was typing quickly, while I couldn't even type a single word," said Mr Wong.

"It was painful and frustrating because I knew the answers … Everything was already in my head – I simply couldn’t type it."

He considered giving up, but Dr Lee Wee Heong, head of the Chinese Studies department, encouraged him to continue.

"He told me, 'One examination cannot represent a student's true ability.’ It was when I realised that I was facing a new challenge, but it did not mean I was not capable of learning,” he said.

Mr Wong Yee Keong and his family photographed at an outdoor garden at the Suntec City Convention & Exhibition Centre on the day of his graduation from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), Oct 13, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Alyssa Tan)

Mr Wong Yee Keong at an outdoor garden at Suntec City Convention & Exhibition Centre on the day of his graduation from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), Oct 13, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Alyssa Tan)

Mr Wong Yee Keong holding hands with his grandson at an outdoor garden in Suntec City Convention & Exhibition Centre on Oct 13, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Alyssa Tan)

So Mr Wong began learning Hanyu Pinyin alongside his degree studies. His efforts paid off and he graduated with nine A and A- grades and won several literary awards.

Dr Lee said what inspired him most was Mr Wong’s willingness to persevere through difficulties.

"His graduation reminds us that learning has no age limit, and that humility and determination can take us far," said Dr Lee.

Besides his lecturers, Mr Wong also credited his family and his wife, who would stay up waiting for him to return from evening classes – sometimes as late as 11pm.

His eldest son, Jun Jie, said the family had seen how much effort his father put into his studies, including learning to use technology, adding: " We've seen him enjoy the time spent with his classmates ... We are very happy for him."

His wife, Madam Yeo Siew Guk, 71, said: "I'm so proud of him, I really support the effort he put in his studies ... I knew he would be able to do it."

Mr Wong now hopes to volunteer as a Chinese tutor for underprivileged children and encourage other retirees to continue learning.

"When we are young, we study to build a better future. Later in life, learning can be a way to fulfil a dream that we once had to put aside for our family," he said.

“The important question isn't whether you're too old. It's whether you want to give yourself another chance to learn.”

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黄义强先生向亚洲新闻台分享了他如何在经历了“痛苦和沮丧”的大学生涯开端后，最终实现毕生梦想的故事。

2026年10月13日，杨秀国女士在新加坡新达城会展中心户外花园为黄义强先生整理毕业帽，当天是黄义强先生的毕业典礼。（图片：CNA/Alyssa Tan）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：黄义强先生一生中的大部分时间都认为，上大学是一个“不可能的梦想”。

中学毕业后，他进入吉宝船厂当学徒，并在长达 40 多年的职业生涯中逐步晋升为船舶工程经理。

即使他事业有成、家庭美满，他获得大学学位的雄心壮志也从未消退。

如今，71岁的他，育有两子，三个孙辈，终于实现了这个梦想。周二（10月13日），他从新加坡社会科学大学（SUSS）毕业，获得了中国语言文学学士学位。

他是今年该大学年龄最大的毕业生，也是九名退休毕业生之一。

然而，他希望有两个人能够看到他的成就：他已故的父母。

黄先生用中文告诉亚洲新闻台：“当我被新加坡新跃社科大学录取时，我做的第一件事就是去光明山庙我父母的龛前告诉他们。”

“我迫不及待地想告诉他们我已经毕业并获得学位了。虽然他们已经不在了，但我感觉我已经替他们实现了这个愿望。”

黄先生有五个兄弟姐妹。他的父母辛勤工作，养家糊口。

中学毕业后，他加入了吉宝船厂，在那里工作了 40 多年。

即使在发展事业和组建家庭的同时，他仍然通过技术和职业课程不断学习，并参加了 A-Level 考试。

2019 年退休后，他参加了一个文凭课程，后来在一家社区组织做志愿者。

2022年，黄先生读到一篇关于一位70多岁的新加坡社会科学大学毕业生的文章。

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黄义强先生20岁时在现已拆除的国家剧院前留影。（照片：黄义强）

黄义强先生，71岁，是新加坡社会科学大学（SUSS）2026届最年长的毕业生。他获得了中国语言文学学士学位。（图片：CNA/Syamil Sapari）

“那时候我已经快70岁了。我心想，为什么不也试一试呢？”他说。

他第一次申请失败了，但他写信给系主任请求再给他一次机会。第二天，他就接到了电话，对方给了他一些改进申请材料的建议。

黄先生随后请家人帮忙查找并扫描了他几十年来积累的学历证书。

“得知自己被录取后，我高兴得跳了起来。我离实现毕生梦想又近了一步，而我原以为以我的年龄，这个梦想是不可能实现的。”

重返校园带来了新的挑战。

他从未学过汉语拼音，在电脑上打字打中文很吃力。

结果，他第一次考试得了D+。

“我完全懵了。周围的同学都在飞快地打字，而我却一个字都打不出来，”黄先生说。

“这很痛苦也很令人沮丧，因为我知道答案……所有答案都在我的脑子里——但我就是打不出来。”

他曾想过放弃，但中国研究系主任李伟雄博士鼓励他继续下去。

“他告诉我，‘一次考试不能代表学生的真实能力。’那时我才意识到自己面临着新的挑战，但这并不意味着我没有学习能力，”他说。

2026年10月13日，黄义强先生从新加坡社会科学大学（SUSS）毕业当天，他与家人在新达城会展中心户外花园合影。（图片：CNA/Alyssa Tan）

2026年10月13日，黄义强先生在新加坡新达城会展中心户外花园，庆祝他从新加坡社会科学大学（SUSS）毕业。（图片：CNA/Alyssa Tan）

2026年10月13日，黄义强先生在新达城会展中心户外花园牵着孙子的手。（图片：CNA/Alyssa Tan）

于是，黄先生在攻读学位的同时开始学习汉语拼音。他的努力没有白费，最终以九门A和A-的优异成绩毕业，并荣获多项文学奖。

李医生说，最令他感动的是黄先生在困难中坚持不懈的精神。

李博士说：“他的毕业提醒我们，学习没有年龄限制，谦逊和决心可以带我们走得很远。”

除了他的讲师们，黄先生还要感谢他的家人和妻子，他们会熬夜等他下晚课回来——有时甚至到晚上 11 点。

他的长子俊杰说，家人都看到了父亲在学习上付出了多少努力，包括学习使用科技，他还补充道：“我们看到他很享受和同学们在一起的时光……我们为他感到非常高兴。”

他的妻子，71岁的杨秀玉女士说：“我为他感到非常骄傲，我非常支持他在学习上付出的努力……我知道他一定能做到。”

黄先生现在希望成为一名志愿的中文家教，帮助贫困儿童学习中文，并鼓励其他退休人士继续学习。

他说：“年轻时，我们努力学习是为了创造更美好的未来。长大后，学习可以成为我们实现曾经为了家庭而不得不搁置的梦想的一种途径。”

“重要的问题不是你是否年纪太大，而是你是否愿意给自己再次学习的机会。”

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