Proving you are never to old

“And so, off I go on the most profound Journey of my life. I will take each of you with me in my heart and look forward to seeing you again in 2016.” Those are the words of Mary Andrus-Overley, the valedictorian of the Gueydan High School graduating class of 1961 as she departs for South Africa.
Fulfilling a life long dream Overley finally received the letter of acceptance, after several years of starting the first steps of joining the Peace Corps.
Her assignment is with the Community HIV/Aids Outreach Program in South Africa where she will provide some mix of preventive life skills developments services for youth and young adults. She will be living in a rural village with a host family for three months while completing intensive language, cultural, technical, and safety training. After the formal swear in-in she will receive her final site assignment- most likely in a rural village or small town for two years of service, returning to the United States in May 2016.
At 70 years of age Overley says, “I am finally realizing my dream of health care work in Africa, held since before the creation of the Peace Corps in 1961.”
Overley goes on to say she is especially humbled and honored to be posted to South Africa, and expects this to be the most challenging and rewarding of the many work opportunities that has comprised her long and varied social work career and sees it as a fitting capstone to her professional career.
Overley is the daughter of the late Homer ‘Bull’ and Evelyn Andrus Overly. She has one sister, Ina Carolyn Hoffpauir.
Mary Andrus-Overley thus proves it is never to late to fulfill your dreams, no matter how old you are.