SCRIPTING A NEW CHAPTER: The Inspiring Story of Sam Kaplan’s College Graduation at 72!
You’ve probably heard — or been told — many times that “anything is possible if you put your mind to it!” And while this can certainly feel hard to believe, Sam Kaplan of Lawrenceville, Georgia, reminds us this month that the statement is still absolutely true. Kaplan recently accomplished something very exciting — he graduated from college! This feat is impressive on its own, but what we haven’t mentioned yet is that Sam is 72 years old. Sam originally graduated from high school in 1969 and never really considered going to college. Instead, he immediately entered the workforce. Over the years, Sam took on many jobs, from customer service for a wholesale distributor of electronics to driving a taxi part-time and even starting his own cleaning service and telemarketing company. So, what made Sam consider getting a college degree after all those years, you ask? A radio ad. “I was riding down 316 and heard on the radio that Georgia Gwinnett College was offering a degree that involved scriptwriting,” he said. “My car seemed to have developed automatic steering, and I pulled off on Collins Hill Road. Five minutes later, I was registering for the fall semester.” Starting school again wasn’t easy, as you could imagine. Sam had to re-learn how to study and even how to make friends in an academic setting.
To remedy that, he gave himself the goal of talking with one classmate every day, getting to know their story, and asking about their methods or approaches to the classes he met them in. It worked! On May 11, 2023, Sam graduated from college, alongside classmates 50 years his junior, with a degree in cinema and media arts. As he strutted across the stage in his cap and gown, his 99-year-old mother watched from her wheelchair in the crowd. She watched with pride as Sam became the only one of his seven siblings to receive a college education.
Sam, we think you’re incredible and hope to see your name in the credits on the big screen one day!
season. It’s about returning to the fact that we are all loved by God and taking the time to feel the eternal presence of His love. I encourage you to take the time, as I did after watching “Elf” again, to reflect on what matters most in your life and let go of the stress that can often accompany the holidays. By doing this, you’ll allow yourself to experience the magic of Christmas in its purest form: a time of love, joy, togetherness and great holiday movies!
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was to attend their church with them, but experiencing that with them was both touching and emotional. As I stood there, teary-eyed, I was reminded that while the holidays can become too hectic, there’s something profound about taking a moment to remember what truly matters. For me, what truly matters is my family, the time I have with them and
2 OctoberKitchen.com God. Christmas is about being with the ones we love and remembering the reason for this
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