A BRIGHT FUTURE
72-year-old Lansdale resident aims to become a teacher after graduating from Montgomery County Community College
— John Sprouse
LANSDALE » John Sprouse, of Lansdale, graduated from Montgomery County Community College on Thursday, May 18. At Montco, Sprouse was just like any other star student. Along with being president of the History Club, Sprouse was a member of the choir and an acapella group. He also was a participant in Montco’s Alternative Spring Break activities. He thrived in his psychology, history and guitar classes and, due to his scholastic success, was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society. Sprouse graduated cum laude with an associate’s degree in social science and now studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
The only difference between Sprouse and the others in his class? Well, he is currently 72 years old.
When he was younger, Sprouse was more of an athlete than a student. He said while he dazzled on the football field and the track, he struggled through his classes and did not ask for the help he needed.
When he graduated from North Penn High School in 1963, Sprouse worked for his family business rather than going on to college. He worked in his family’s store for over 25 years, and then went on to have a career in retail management and sales which, he claimed, was “OK, but didn’t pay extremely well.”
Sprouse sought something more rewarding, and thus he went back to school.
Sprouse’s Montco career
“You find things fascinating when you simply absorb the material and try to learn more for the sake of learning.”
spanned over 10 years, as he didn’t attend school for consecutive semesters because of work and other commitments. Sprouse fondly described his years at Montco. He said his age gave him a different perspective on learning.
“When you’re younger you are trying to fill the curriculum requirements. You’re not focused on the subject as much as getting a job,” Sprouse noted.
He is solely focused on learning more and taking in information from his professors.
“You find things fascinating when you simply absorb the material and try to learn more for the sake of learning,” Sprouse added.
As the oldest graduate of Montco’s Class of 2017, you may think that Sprouse would have had trouble fitting in with his younger colleagues. However, that was not the case. Sprouse conversed with and befriended many of his peers at school, and claimed that “it didn’t feel any different” to be in classes with younger students. He even went to a concert with a fellow student who shared his passion of classical guitar.
“Age has no relevance when you have a common subject in mind,” according to Sprouse.
In college, Sprouse was able to take classes that he was interested in, particularly in the fields of history and psychology. For his history class, he wrote a 16-page paper on the life of Martin Luther, which he presented to a history conference at Moravian College. In psychology, he became fascinated with the field of cognitive behavioral psychology.
Perhaps Sprouse left the biggest impression on his cultural anthropology teacher at Montco, Obed Arango. Arango, who has been teaching for 25 years, declared that Sprouse was one of the best students he
ever had.
“His performance was the best I’ve ever had from a student. His wisdom, his experience of life combined with his energy were incredible,” Arango said.
Arango emphasized that it was a “humbling experience” being Sprouse’s teacher, and he knows that the 72-year-old has a bright future ahead of him.
“I request top quality from my students, and John exhibited that. I have no doubt that he will be a success,” Arango said.
Sprouse is now at the University of Pennsylvania, seeking a bachelor’s degree. Sprouse emphasized that, like other students, he faces difficulty, particularly in his biology and writing classes. However, he has learned to adapt to the styles of his professors, and he now does not hesitate to seek help when he needs it. He said he has
bonded with many of his professors and they have become his friends as well. As for Sprouse’s future? “I want to keep on going as long as I’m capable. Teaching is the ultimate goal,” Sprouse stated.
After Penn, Sprouse wants to teach, perhaps music therapy classes or classes helping veterans overcome PTSD. Like his inspiration, Mr. Keating in the classic 1989 film “Dead Poet’s Society,” Sprouse preaches “carpe diem.” He wants to seize every day, explore new things, and make his life extraordinary. Education, he said, is the best way to do so.
Sprouse encouraged today’s students to continue their education. He stressed that students should find something they are passionate about and follow through with it. As his motto goes, “Quitters never win and winners never quit.”
“His performance was the best I’ve ever had from a student. His wisdom, his experience of life combined with his energy were incredible.” Obed Arango, cultural anthropology professor