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Video: NJ High School's 90-Year-Old "Super Senior"
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 19, 2009
Modified Feb 19, 2009
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By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 19, 2009
Modified Feb 19, 2009
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In high school at 90 years old
A truly heartwarming story from the Star-Ledger: Estelle Manorek, 90, attended a day of classes at West Caldwell High School in West Caldwell, NJ. Manorek "grew up the child of Polish immigrants in Jersey City during the Depression" and never attended high school because she went to work at age 14 after her brother contracted polio.
She told students, "I worked at a leather factory, a pocketbook factory, a weight-measures factory -- anyplace you could get a job. Make sure you kids go to school. It's important -- without an education, you can't earn a decent living. People look down at you." And at the end of the day, Manorek received a special reminder of her day from the principal—an honorary high school diploma.
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depression
high school
nj
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West Caldwell
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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