PHILADELPHIA — Name him the Rip van Winkle of Benjamin Franklin Excessive: Joseph Bond dropped out of highschool at age 17, as struggle raged in Vietnam, leaving with out a diploma.
Over 55 years, he served his nation, constructed a profession, a household, a life. However as he hit his 70s, Bond remembered the promise he made to his mom earlier than she died: He vowed he’d earn his diploma sometime.
On June 13, Bond, a 72-year-old great-grandfather, will graduate from Ben Franklin’s Instructional Choices Program, an evening faculty that enables grownup college students who disengaged as youth to complete what they began.
“I get up all these years later, and I am the one with the grey beard,” stated Bond. “It was one among my objectives earlier than I cross, to get that top faculty diploma.”
‘The furthest factor from my thoughts’
Bond was born in South Philadelphia, then moved to North Philadelphia together with his dad and mom, 4 brothers and a sister. He favored Ben Franklin superb as a pupil within the Sixties, however received into hassle for combating as he handed by robust neighborhoods, and a decide gave him a selection.
“He stated, ‘Both put on pinstripes, or put on inexperienced,'” Bond remembered. Service to his nation felt like a greater possibility than jail, so Bond enlisted within the Marines, and it was off to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
It was a sea change, tough in some ways.
“At first, I used to be form of rebellious, and the instructors had been robust. Their complete job is to interrupt you down and construct you again up. However I spotted if I rebelled, I would not graduate,” Bond stated.
As soon as he settled into Marine life, Bond completely loved the bodily a part of the job. He had by no means shot a pistol earlier than, and located he excelled at it.
Bond hadn’t visited a lot past Philadelphia, however the navy took him to Vietnam and Japan. He labored as a variety coach, serving to different Marines with their rifle abilities.
He returned to Philadelphia within the mid-Seventies. At first, civilian life was a battle, notably due to post-traumatic stress dysfunction, however Bond ultimately received a metropolis job, working as an gear operator with the Philadelphia Water Division.
Life was busy, with Bond constructing a household, and there was no time for college. However in 1977, his mom, Elizabeth Bond, was in her closing days.
“When she died, I made a promise to her — that I might get my diploma, as a result of her complete factor was for all of her youngsters to get an schooling,” Bond stated. The promise felt elusive at occasions — he had three kids and a whole lot of tasks. In 1995, he joined the Army Nationwide Guard, and in 2002, he was known as as much as energetic responsibility, deploying to Iraq for Operation Enduring Freedom.
“I used to be targeted on my household duties, ensuring that my youngsters would have an opportunity to get an excellent schooling,” Bond stated. “To be trustworthy, faculty for me was the furthest factor from my thoughts. I simply wished to care for my household.”
Again to highschool
After 35 years as a metropolis worker, Bond retired in 2013.
At this level, he had 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, and he had extra time on his fingers, his household let him know.
“They saved getting on me about going again to highschool,” he stated. Lastly, in 2023, he was prepared to point out his grandchildren — the youngest of whom is in seventh grade — and great-grands that it is by no means too late to study.
“You’ll be able to’t inform someone to do one thing you are not going to do,” he stated. “Generally in life, you’ve got voids that should be stuffed. This was one of many voids I wanted to fill.”
Returning to highschool 50-plus years after final leaving was daunting, however Bond was decided to stay the touchdown this time, and was astonished at what he might push himself to do, even after a decades-long hole.
“I by no means did like English or artwork, and people are two of my greatest topics now,” stated Bond. “I loved faculty extra now than I did once I was coming right here earlier than.”
Yvonna Partitions, Bond’s artwork trainer, stated he was reserved and quiet when he first entered her class.
“He thought he wasn’t going to have the ability to accomplish the issues that we had been going to ask of him in school,” Partitions stated. He was just a little fuzzy on expertise, and had by no means actually been requested to attract.
“He would at all times say, ‘I’ve by no means achieved this earlier than,’ or ‘I have not achieved this in so lengthy,'” stated Partitions. “However he was keen to attempt to to persevere by any task he was given. Generally he would say, ‘Hey can I take this house and convey it again to you tomorrow?’ And he at all times did.'”
‘Dream come true’
Partitions was just a little astonished on the social facet of issues — after worrying what it might be like returning to highschool with individuals who had been his grandchildren’s age, he discovered he slot in very well.
“No person by no means disrespected me,” he stated. “I used to be just a little stunned about that. Generally the youthful folks generally is a little disrespectful. I am like a grandfather to simply about everyone in right here. I look as much as them, they appear as much as me, we sit down and we speak.”
He had an surprising thrill, too — he attended his highschool promenade, and was topped promenade king.
“It was a dream come true,” stated Bond.
Now that commencement is across the nook, he is hoping his household does not throw him a celebration — he is a low-key form of man. However he has huge plans for his long-delayed diploma.
“I will blow it up, get it 20 by 30,” Bond stated. “As quickly as you are available in the lounge, it is going to be proper there wanting in your face.”
___
©2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Go to at inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content material Company, LLC.
© Copyright 2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer. All rights reserved. This materials might not be revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
