But shes never given up her love of learning.
It was long overdue, she says.
Hislop didnt need more coursework.
She had completed it all before leaving campus abruptly 83 years earlier to marry fellow student George Hislop.
Hed been called up for military duty and she wanted to travel with him.
As an Army wife, Hislop spent time at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and Camp Roberts, California.
Hislop never pursued her earlier dream to become a teacher.
But once her children were in school, she found a different calling in education.
Over several decades, she served on the boards of the Yakima School District and two area colleges.
Hislop has outlived her husband and children.
Today, she lives independently, with regular check-ins from her son-in-law, Doug Jensen.
Her four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren all attended the outdoor graduation ceremony at Stanford.
She spoke with AARP about what life is like well into her 11th decade.
The conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
If you had to pick one reason that youre still thriving, what would it be?
I think luck has a great deal to do with it.
I come from very healthy stock.
My mother lived well into her 90s.
Women on my mothers side of the family seem to live long lives.
What are you looking forward to when you get out of bed every morning?
Well, most of the year, Im interested in whats going on in the garden.
And of course, Im interested in what my grandchildren are doing.
And then I usually have a book or two going.
I read quite a lot.
What would you tell your 20-year-old self today?
The world is not going to come to a crashing end because you dont get your way.
I never thought Id be an Army wife, and I spent five years in that role.
How about your 50-year-old self?
Probably Id say, dont stew too much about your children.
Youve done the best it’s possible for you to bringing them up and giving them standards.
