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SY: So now the other thing I wanted to ask you about was, having never graduated from Pasadena Junior College, was that something that you had regret, you have regret about?
EN: Well, I think I was quite stupid not to do that, continue with school, but I've not really regretted it 'cause I've led a really wonderful life as it was. Might've been even better if I'd continued with my education, but --
SY: It never really hindered you, though.
EN: No, not really.
SY: But you did recently get an honorary degree.
EN: [Laughs] Along with the other...
SY: How many people?
EN: I can't remember. I knew last year when it happened, but there were quite a few of us. Some of them I don't think could make it, but Dr. Lisa Sugimoto was president of the school at that time and she really went out of her way to make it a special occasion for all the graduates, really a wonderful day for everyone. And I told, kept telling them, I don't belong here, I'm not supposed to be here, but they said yes, you are. And I'm so glad that they included me because it was really special.
SY: It was. So it was a ceremony that was honoring all the, all the people who both graduated and --
EN: Those who were in school at the time of evacuation and who were unable to continue their schoolwork that year.
SY: And you were the only one that --
EN: Only one that didn't fit in that category. [Laughs]
SY: Well in a way you did, though, because you weren't able to go to college because of the war. And were you, did they talk about, were you singled out at the ceremony?
EN: No. I don't remember. I don't think so. I was just included in the group.
SY: You were introduced and you each received a diploma.
EN: Yes. It was a really thrilling day.
SY: That's nice. And there were quite a few. There were quite a few.
EN: There was quite, I think there were about twenty-two at least.
SY: Wow. So that was, did, that was a pretty nice culmination of your, all of your experience.
EN: It was really, really wonderful.
SY: Yeah.
<End Segment 33> - Copyright © 2011 Densho. All Rights Reserved.