71-year-old South Carolina man decided at 69 to continue his education. Leroy Harley says after years of moving and trying out different career paths, he believes he has found his passion.

“I really am proud of myself, I mean I have to be,” he told CBS 19. Harley walked the stage at the University of South Carolina last Saturday afternoon earning his master’s degree in teaching.

“Anything that was new and interesting, I became interested in it,” Harley said.

The scholar moved back to Bowman, South Carolina after moving around several times back in 1993. After spending time with his mom, she told him he should look into working at the school. He would go on to apply to Bethune-Bowman Elementary School where he was originally hired as a teacher’s aide.

“I immediately got interested in teaching. Like I say, if it’s something new, I am going to try it and see where it takes me,” he said.

The path would lead him back to college to get a teaching degree.

“I thought, ‘Why am I going back to school at this age? I should be sorta coasting into retirement,” he said. “But I went on and did it anyhow.”

A degree, he says, was hard but was made possible by hard work and support from his family.

“I am elated at the fact that Lee, after all these years, decided to follow his heart,” she said. “He has. Education has always been a strong part of his life.”

Harley has one final message to anyone who is considering changing careers.

“I say go ahead and do it, I mean, because … you bring a lot to the table, OK?” he said. “There’s a lot you have to learn at the table but you bring a lot to the table.”

Harley plans on teaching for the next few years and hasn’t decided when he wants to retire.