Dorotea Levy de Szekely is living proof of lifelong learning.
At 74, the Upper East Sider received her bachelor’s degree from Hunter College on May 30. A grandmother of three, born and raised in Argentina, her journey is a testament to the transformative power of education and the pursuit of knowledge at any age.
De Szekely’s path to Hunter College shows resilience and fortitude. As a child, she had a learning disability, and her teachers told her that she didn’t have the brains to pursue higher education — or even to graduate high school!
Facing such discouragement, she didn’t return to academia until she was in her 60s. As an older student, however, she excelled, earning an associate degree with a perfect 4.0 GPA from Borough of Manhattan Community College in 2019 — where she delivered the valedictory address. By then, the learning bug was in her bones, and she jumped at the chance to further her studies at Hunter.
“The day that I stop learning, I will be dead! That's my motto,” de Szekely said. “This is just the beginning for me.”
At Hunter, which she entered in the fall of 2019, de Szekely pursued a double major in German language and literature and English (with a concentration in creative writing), with a minor in French. She also found a vibrant and inclusive community, which she describes with profound emotion.
“The skywalk epitomizes Hunter’s philosophy for me,” de Szekely said. “It’s a bridge that goes from the east to the west building, from the north to the south. When I see people walking — students, professors, and staff from all walks of life — it makes me feel like my heart is bursting out of my chest. It’s so amazing. That’s why I say this is the beginning for me.”
Her family (a daughter, two sons, and three grandchildren) supported her belated studies.
“They’re proud,” she shared, laughing about their reactions to her adapting to modern student slang, such as the term “rizz” for power of attraction and the texting acronym WDYM for “what do you mean?”
“I have this amazing support group at home, my daughter, my grandchildren when they’re here, and my two sons. So, they’re all pushing me,” she said.
