Don José starts law school in Jalisco at 84

Don José Mejía is one of those examples that, through his history, reminds us that there are no obstacles in life, it is never too late to accomplish goals.

He is 84 years old and last Monday was his first day at university. Now he is studying Law at the University Center of the South Coast (Cucsur) of the University of Guadalajara (UdeG), located in the municipality of Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco.

Don José Mejía competed for a slot at UdeG with over one-thousand candidates to attend the law program offered in the University Center of the South Coast, of which they accepted 772, including him.

The student had only finished primary school as a child, but after an open-heart operation, he felt that he should embark on his dream. So in 2008 he resumed his studies. In 2013 he made his first attempt to enter the University Center of Social Sciences and Humanities of UdeG, however did not reach the necessary score, tried to study in a private school but due to health problems had to return to Autlán, where he was born. After years, and perseverance, he is now on the road to accomplishing his goal.

“I asked him to stand and spontaneously everyone applauded him because he is an example, he is an example of life, an example of effort, that at any age you can also access education, so we are happy to have him in our university,” said Lilia Victoria Oliver Sánchez, Rector of the University Center of the South Coast. Enrique Flores Terriquez, a teacher who is part of the law school, says that José’s presence in the classroom will help young people take him as an example to follow.

“I think that Pepe will be like an integrator of the group, now we saw his charisma we saw the way in which the group treated him, they listened to him and as he calls them to study and to work with enthusiasm.”

Classmates of José Mejía are proud to share knowledge with a man of 84 years, he could well be their grandfather. “It is a great opportunity for us to know that the options are always present for us and that it’s never too late to reach our goals,” said José Ismael Magaña.

Don Jose Mejia’s greatest desire is to complete his studies in 2020, afterwards to process his state and federal professional card, and begin to practice as a lawyer and as he says “helping the weak,” a vocation he discovered when he held positions in the Municipal Presidency of Casimiro Castillo, and realized violations of the law and how people do not have the elements to defend themselves legally.

“If you have already made the decision what you want to be in your life, ask yourself how you are going to do it, and when you make the decision to take the next step, it will lead to two things: failure or success,” reflects Jose.

SRN