Why this 80-year-old man wanted to go back to school

Ron Robertis in the early stages of getting the degree he had always wanted at WilfirdLaurierUniversity. That decision came after the80-year-old was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease five years ago.

"I had to make a decision: Do Ijust sit here on my butt and let my brain turn to mush? Or do I do something about it?" he toldCBCNews.

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In his youth,Robert worked as a political journalist in Saskatoon for two decades beforelanding a job at the western desk ofthePrime Minister's Office.

Years later, after his diagnosis, Robertstarted to learnFrench and Spanish. But that wasn't quite enough for him. He wanted to keep learning.

He's now enrolled asa full-time first-year political science student at the university. He saidhis experience has been very positive so farashe's been "well taken care of" and welcomed by his class mates and other students.

"I've been in politics all my life, I'd love to get a degree in political science, like a bucket wish if you will, and that was it. I registered here at Laurierand its the best move I ever made," he said.

'He's one of us'

In his short time at Laurier, Robert has been able to connect with students and make friends because heloves to spend time with them.

"It's almost a spiritual thing being around all these students," he said. "It brings me more alive and I've learned a whole new respect for these young people."

The students feel the same way about Robert.

"It's like he's one of us, you even forget that he's 80," said MalaikaAhmed, a second-year health science student, who met Robert through a mutual friend."He's a student. He always talks about how much homework he has, how much he needs to study."

"Every time I see him in the hallway and I'm with my friends, he's very cool with us and he acts like he's one of us," said ElhamSonan, a second-year biology student.

Learning to learn

Robertadmits he's had totrain his brain to learn again since he started school in the fall.

"Yeah, it's a learning curve and I had to learn to learn again and that's difficult," he said.

"I haven't been in school in 60, 70 years. All of a sudden it's like I gotta get this mind of mine turned around a bit and start knowing how to learn, which I think it's really important for seniors to remember."

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His experience as a student has not only helped him physically, but mentally as well. He believes learningisone of the best ways to keep Alzheimer's at bay.

"At first I wasn't sure I could," he said. "But the more I'm doing, the more I'm hearing.I think part of it is that it's just so damn interesting," he said.

"I'm learning all kinds of new things at 80-years-old. You can teach an old dog new tricks!"