LEXINGTON, Ky. — More than 1,300 Eastern Kentucky University students graduated on Saturday. One of those graduates hopes to show others it’s never too late to go after one’s dreams.
Thirteen days before Diane Gentry’s 60th birthday, she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology from EKU. This is an accomplishment that has been over 40 years in the making. She not only successfully completed her degree, but she did so with the Magna Cum Laude distinction.
“I feel really amazing about it and I’m looking forward to the doors that will be open for me,” said Gentry.
Gentry got an Associate’s Degree in accounting from Lexington Community College shortly after graduating from high school. She had a daughter during her sophomore year of college.
Gentry transferred to the University of Kentucky after completing her time at LCC.
Between being a single mother, working full time, and dealing with her mom’s health issues, she ultimately decided to leave school.
“I wanted to support my daughter in her school and also take care of my mom,” said Gentry. “My mom had a stroke at first and then she developed dementia and Alzheimer’s, so I wanted to be her primary caregiver.”
Gentry went on to have a successful career in finance, but her passion’s always lied elsewhere. When she had transferred to UK, she switched her major to psychology and always felt a pull to that field. 17 years after leaving school, she enrolled at EKU in 2021 to follow that dream while still working full time.
“My heart has always been to work with teenage mothers, so if I can get into working in some type of field with that,” said Gentry.
She has been an inspiration to some of her friends to enroll in school.
“No matter what obstacle comes in your way, that you can always still achieve your dreams,” said Gentry. “It may be hard and you may stumble, but you can always get back up and continue whatever plans you had. You can still stay focused, stay committed, stay dedicated to it and you can accomplish whatever you choose to do and put your mind to do.”
Her mother always wanted her children to be the best they could be, and Gentry feels she has honored her mother’s memory with this accomplishment.