When Buckhead resident Arthur Harris, 85, sat down to write the story of his life thus far, it turned out to be a love story.
He completed “Love Everlasting,” a memoir chronicling his 62-year marriage with his wife, Sydell, as a master’s thesis for Kennesaw State University’s professional writing program, from which Harris graduated on Tuesday.
The university will confer more than 1,600 degrees during graduation ceremonies this week.
Harris and his wife met as teenagers in New York and co-founded Spa Sydell in Buckhead in 1982. After retiring in the late ’90s, Harris decided it was time to fulfill a lifelong goal.
“It was always a thought in my mind I might (go back to school) when I retired,” he said. “It felt like a missing quantity in my life.”
In 2007 Harris completed a bachelor’s in English at Kennesaw State, which included a study abroad trip to Montepulciano, Italy, where Arthur learned about travel writing and Sydell took an art class.
Harris did have to overcome hearing difficulties and computer illiteracy to earn his degrees, but said he was able to surmount those obstacles through friendships with fellow students and professors.
“I found out first-hand that young people get bad press, because they sort of adopted me as their surrogate grandfather and were very helpful to me,” he said.
Tony Grooms, a professor of creative writing, taught Harris as an undergraduate and was academic co-advisor on his master’s thesis. Grooms said Harris was a model student who produced 300 pages of prose to complete his degree when only 100 were required.
“He’s been a wonderful student. He’s been very engaged. He has a great sense of humor. He does his homework,” he said. “Arthur is just a prime example of lifelong learning. He’s a person of strong intellect who’s curious about the world. He’s adventuresome. He’s living life to the fullest and I think that’s a good lesson for us all. We’re very happy and proud to be associated with him.”
Harris plans to continue volunteering with Literacy In Action, a nonprofit which promotes literacy and lifelong learning.
He also hopes to teach and speak to area groups because of a positive experience delivering Kennesaw State’s commencement speech in fall 2007, for which he received a standing ovation.
“My theme was ‘Take Action,’ urging the graduating class not to procrastinate,” he said.
This Blog is brought to you by Roswell HandyMan Services and Repair. Atlanta Handyman Services by Detail Design & Remodeling. Still believes in continuing education to sharpen our skills. Atlanta Handyman Services accomplish this by attending builder shows and seminars to keep up with change and the newest state-of-the-art product lines, taking continuing education classes, receiving certifications in specialized and general knowledge areas and awards for leadership in the industry.
He completed “Love Everlasting,” a memoir chronicling his 62-year marriage with his wife, Sydell, as a master’s thesis for Kennesaw State University’s professional writing program, from which Harris graduated on Tuesday.
The university will confer more than 1,600 degrees during graduation ceremonies this week.
Harris and his wife met as teenagers in New York and co-founded Spa Sydell in Buckhead in 1982. After retiring in the late ’90s, Harris decided it was time to fulfill a lifelong goal.
“It was always a thought in my mind I might (go back to school) when I retired,” he said. “It felt like a missing quantity in my life.”
In 2007 Harris completed a bachelor’s in English at Kennesaw State, which included a study abroad trip to Montepulciano, Italy, where Arthur learned about travel writing and Sydell took an art class.
Harris did have to overcome hearing difficulties and computer illiteracy to earn his degrees, but said he was able to surmount those obstacles through friendships with fellow students and professors.
“I found out first-hand that young people get bad press, because they sort of adopted me as their surrogate grandfather and were very helpful to me,” he said.
Tony Grooms, a professor of creative writing, taught Harris as an undergraduate and was academic co-advisor on his master’s thesis. Grooms said Harris was a model student who produced 300 pages of prose to complete his degree when only 100 were required.
“He’s been a wonderful student. He’s been very engaged. He has a great sense of humor. He does his homework,” he said. “Arthur is just a prime example of lifelong learning. He’s a person of strong intellect who’s curious about the world. He’s adventuresome. He’s living life to the fullest and I think that’s a good lesson for us all. We’re very happy and proud to be associated with him.”
Harris plans to continue volunteering with Literacy In Action, a nonprofit which promotes literacy and lifelong learning.
He also hopes to teach and speak to area groups because of a positive experience delivering Kennesaw State’s commencement speech in fall 2007, for which he received a standing ovation.
“My theme was ‘Take Action,’ urging the graduating class not to procrastinate,” he said.
This Blog is brought to you by Roswell HandyMan Services and Repair. Atlanta Handyman Services by Detail Design & Remodeling. Still believes in continuing education to sharpen our skills. Atlanta Handyman Services accomplish this by attending builder shows and seminars to keep up with change and the newest state-of-the-art product lines, taking continuing education classes, receiving certifications in specialized and general knowledge areas and awards for leadership in the industry.
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