At 73 years old, he fulfills the dream of a lifetime and graduates in Medicine and Surgery after 54 years. He had promised it to his father before he died, and Enzo Fernando Buccoliero yesterday followed through on this desire, amidst the emotion of grandchildren, friends, and great-grandchildren gathered in the hall of the Santa Patrizia complex where the graduation sessions for the course in Medicine and Surgery of the Vanvitelli University took place.
Enzo organized a small bus to bring them all from Sava, in the province of Taranto, to Naples, to share the joy and emotion of this great day, when he finally wore the laurel crown that his sister-in-law placed on his head, after discussing with emotion his thesis on Nervous and Mental Diseases titled “Parkinson's and atypical parkinsonisms (plus),” assigned to him by his supervisor, Antonio Gallo, associate professor of Neurology at the Vanvitelli University's Neurological Clinic.
“An exemplary story of resilience,” commented Professor Gallo at the end of the graduation session, “Enzo Buccoliero has been enrolled at the university for 54 years because, despite the many adversities life has reserved for him, he wanted to complete his studies begun in 1970. Nothing made him give up, not even waking up at 2 in the morning to get on the bus at 5 am, making a 7-hour journey, and often staying up the next night waiting at the station for the return bus. This for every exam, meeting with professors, or to attend courses.”
The first hugs after the proclamation as Doctor of Medicine and Surgery were those of his grandchildren, children of his older brother who is no longer here, but who had been the instigator of his enrollment in the Faculty of Medicine, as it was called at the time. “My brother was graduating in Literature here in Naples and pushed me to enroll in Medicine. Then many things happened... My mother's illness, which I cared for for 18 years, then my father's, shorter but equally painful and requiring care, economic difficulties, my work as a farmer... Life can deviate your path, slow it down, but this does not mean that you cannot still reach the goal, your dreams. Even at 73 years old, as happened to me today.”
Enzo Fernando Buccoliero, to cope with his parents' illnesses and economic difficulties, rolled up his sleeves doing many jobs and continuing to study in the time he was allowed. First a farmer, then an employee at the Justice of the Peace offices, finally a municipal employee at the Social Services. “Social services in some way had to do with caring for people and this was always my desire. And then I had promised it to my father, who asked me before he died. He told me: Enzo do not give up. And I did it.”
“This story must be an example for many young students,” commented the Rector of the Vanvitelli University, Gianfranco Nicoletti, “Difficulties in studies and in life are inevitable, but tenacity and perseverance are necessary elements to achieve one's goals. Everyone has the right to education and training, and the University today must be more inclusive than ever and, as far as possible, supportive of young people and their future.”