52-Year Old Janitor to Graduate from Columbia University
by Tom Cadmus ‘12
Gac Filipaj, 52, moved from Yugoslavia to New York without knowing a word of English. He will graduate from Columbia University with an honors degree.
He first moved to the United States in 1992 when his country was in a civil war. He started learning English while working full-time as a custodian for Columbia University. Columbia’s policy allows employees to take a certain number of courses per semester. Tuition for full-time commuting students is $43,088 annually.
Aside from the major cost break, Columbia grants no other special privileges for employees.
It took Mr. Filipaj nineteen years to get his degree, taking one or two classes per semester. He also plans to pursue his Master’s and maybe even his Ph.D. He told ABC, “I would say that I have fulfilled half of my dream—going to graduate school would complete it.”
College dean Peter Awn said, “He's one of those people that believe that if you work hard at anything, be that his custodial responsibilities or his academic responsibilities, you can create that sense of accomplishment and value.”
Unfortunately, his father, who died just three weeks ago, will not be able to see his son walk at graduation.
Mr. Filipaj’s story shows that hard work, and perseverance really pay off. That a man came to this country knowing no English, worked as a custodian for nineteen years, and took one or two classes a semester is now graduating from one of the best Ivy League schools in the nation, is truly remarkable.
