Atage89,MaryFasanograduatedwithabachelorsdegreefromtheExtensionSchoollastweekandenteredthehistorybooksastheoldestpersontoearnanundergraduatedegreeatHarvard.Followingisthespeechshedelivered--"ThePowerofKnowledge"--attheExtensionSchooldiplomaawardingceremony:

　　Irememberonenightafewyearsagowhenmydaughterwasfranticwithworry.AftermyHarvardExtensionSchoolclasses,Iusuallyarrivedatthebusstationnearmyhomeby11p.m.,butonthatnightIwasnowheretobefound.Mydaughterwasnervous.Itwasntsafeforasinglewomantowalkaloneonthestreetsatnight,especiallyoneasdefenselessasIam:Icanslayamuggerwithmysharpwit,butImjusttooshorttodoanyrealphysicaldamage.

　　Thatnightmydaughtercheckedthebusstation,drovearoundthestreets,andcontactedsomefriends.Butshecouldntfindme--untilshecalledmyastronomyprofessorwhotoldherthatIwasontopoftheScienceCenterusingthetelescopetogazeatthestars.Unawareofthetime,IhadgottenlostintheheavensandwasonlythinkingaboutthenewthingsIhadlearnedthatnightinclass.

　　ThisstoryillustratesahabitIhavedevelopedovertheyears:Ilosetrackofthetimewhenitcomestolearning.Howelsedoyouexplainawomanwhobeganhighschoolatage71andwhoisgraduatingwithabachelorsdegreeat89?Imayhavestartedlate,butIwillcontinuetolearnaslongasIamablebecausethereisnogreaterfeeling,inmyopinion,thantravelingtoafarawaycountryasIhaveandbeingabletoidentifybysightthepaintingofafamousartist,thestatueofanobscuresculptor,thecathedralofanancientarchitect.Ihavefoundthattheworldisafinalexamthatyoucanneverbepreparedenoughfor.SoIwillcontinuetotakeclassesandtellmystory.

　　Latelyitseemsthateveryoneisaskingme,"Mary,whatadvicedoyouhaveforotherstudents?"SowhileIhaveyouallhere,Imgoingtoeasemyburdenofansweringyoueachindividually:

　　Ifthesayingistruethatwisdomcomeswithage,youmaysafelyassumethatIamoneofthewisestpeopleinthishallandpossiblyatthisuniversitytoday.SolistentomewhenItellyouthis:Knowledgeispower.