The first day of college can be nerve-wracking for those just starting out, but this girl named Melanie Salazar has a true friend from day one among her classmates, and that’s…her grandpa!
Melanie attended Palo Alto College in San Antonio, Texas; his grandfather also studies there – one of the most popular people on campus, Rene Neira, 82. He is expected to receive his economics degree after the upcoming semester.
Neira has been studying economics for as long as Salazar can remember (and himself). It’s part of his career. Salazar thinks it’s perfectly normal to go to the same university as her grandfather, so the 18-year-old was surprised when her tweet about it was shared more than 2,000 times.
“It’s great to know that something that’s perfectly normal for me is so out of the ordinary for others,” says Salazar.
She, who studies humanities, says her grandfather is popular for his pragmatic nature and his love of jokes in all situations (despite his age).
“I think he draws people to him because he’s so cool – an 82-year-old man who doesn’t drop out of school! He is determined in his studies,” she says.
However, Salazar’s grandfather says his goal is not “to be a role model for his granddaughter and for young people in general”. “I’m not trying to inspire Melanie or anyone else.
I’m glad it’s happening, but I do what I want,” he said. In fact, he started going to college in the 1950s, but was forced to leave to support his family.
After retiring, he decided to complete his studies in one of his favorite sciences – economics. Next, Neira, who has changed many jobs, is going to attend the University of Texas at San Antonio to get a bachelor’s degree.
