64-year-old father of 5 graduates as a nurse, studying alongside his son

Digital Editor

BRISTOL, England —

A 64-year-old father of five is now a registered nurse after returning to school and studying alongside his son.

John Adesoye, who changed careers after working as an electronics technician, completed a Nurse Degree Apprenticeship this summer at the University of the West of England in Bristol, England.

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Adesoye began working as a health care assistant at Southmead Hospital in 2014 after deciding to pursue a career helping people, later completing two apprenticeship programs to advance into nursing, according to a press release from UWE.

While earning his degree, he attended classes one day a week at UWE Bristol while continuing to work at the hospital, where he has served in departments including cardiology, orthopedics, emergency medicine and intensive care.

During his time at the university, his son Daniel was also enrolled there, pursuing a degree in creative music technology.

Adesoye said he never imagined he would attend a university but encouraged others not to let age stop them from pursuing higher education.

“Don’t listen to people who say you’re too old for university,” Adesoye said. “If I can do it, others can too. People are more brilliant than they think and they’re stronger than they think.”

Now, Adesoye has accepted a nursing role at Southmead Hospital and said he hopes to continue his education with a master’s-level health care qualification — if the opportunity arises.

Growing up in a poor farming family in Nigeria before later moving to Greece and eventually the United Kingdom, Adesoye said helping patients recover now brings him the same satisfaction he once found repairing broken electronic devices.