Gac Filipaj, Columbia University Custodian, Earns Degree After Working Way Through School

Columbia University custodian Gac Filipaj earned his degree while working his way through school

Facing war in his homeland, Gac Filipaj traveled to America in search of a better life and a job so he could send money back home to relatives.

Now, 20 years after leaving the former Yugoslavia for America without speaking a word of English, Filipaj has earned a B.A. in Classics -- with department honors -- from Columbia University's School of General Studies, where he has worked as a janitor for the past 19 years, the New York Daily News reports.

On Sunday, the 52-year-old will join hundreds of other undergraduate students at commencement to receive his degree and then take a break for two days. After that, he said operations will return to normal as he goes back to work as a janitor.

"I think I'm going to stay at Columbia," Filipaj told the Daily News. "If I can get a job better than cleaning, good. If not, there is nothing shameful about that work."

In a press release issued by Columbia University, Filipaj said he took a job as a janitor at the University in order to take English language classes, and then enrolled in the general studies program.

"First, for six years, I worked in the dormitories as a heavy cleaner, and then, when the student union Lerner Hall opened, I began working there in 2000," Filipaj said. "As a student, I was working on English-language courses and eventually my English proficiency was at a high enough level to be eligible to begin taking classes part-time through the School of Continuing Education and then the School of General Studies."

Filipaj said his grueling schedule -- classes in the morning, then work until 11 p.m. -- was too much to bear at times.

"I had some very difficult moments," he told the Daily News. "Some days, I was so tired."

Filipaj said he plans to further his education and hopes to take courses in classics, foreign languages or philosophy.

"I would say that I have fulfilled half of my dream—going to graduate school would complete it," Filipaj said in the Columbia press release.

Columbia, a member of the Ivy League, is one of the nation's elite schools and accepts only 10 percent of applicants. Columbia support staff, however, have their tuition exempted, according to Columbia human resources website.

The Tuition Exemption Benefit Program pays tuition costs for undergraduate and graduate courses at Columbia University, Barnard College and Teachers College -- all without having to solve equations late at night like Matt Damon's character in Good Will Hunting.

According to Collegedata.com, Columbia's total cost of attendance was $59,117 in 2012, which includes room and board. Tuition and fees cost $45,290. Of all undergrads, the site reports that 51.5 percent of undergraduates were found to have financial need and were eligible for an average award of $40.259.

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Comments

[Zixon]

11:56 AM on 05/13/2012

I went to nursing school full time while working full time in my 40s. It was the hardest thing I've ever done, and I did not manage honors (but I did graduate and pass the NCLEX). Hi fives from another older student, and congratuations!

[Maureen Sinclair]

09:43 AM on 05/12/2012

Gac,

I must complete my dissertation this summer. As I begin today's writing, your story inspires me deeply. Imagining you with your graduating class tomorrow brings a smile.
My wish for you is full funding for your graduate studies! You, sir, can go all the way!
Best of luck,
Tara

[RRoadrunner]

12:18 PM on 05/11/2012

Great story!

[rg9rts]

06:23 PM on 05/10/2012

Way to go,never too old to learn, didn't go back to grad school till my late 40's myself. My advantage over my classmates is that I brought a wealth of life experience to the learning environment. Smart move to keep the day job, too.

[cosmiCataclysm]

04:51 PM on 05/10/2012

Nice! Good luck on your Master's!

[madmomrn1]

10:50 AM on 05/10/2012

WOW....so inspiring. Congratulations!

[Eduardo Estrada]

10:20 AM on 05/10/2012

You GO, my brother from another mother !!!

[Cherish Nia]

11:46 PM on 05/09/2012

rooting for you

[Klytemnestra]

10:59 PM on 05/09/2012

Well done, sir!

[sree1612]

10:09 PM on 05/09/2012

Awesome.

[Nathalie Reynolds]

08:35 PM on 05/09/2012

I want to know what ethnic group from the "former Yugoslavia" Mr. Filipaj is a member of? I cannot find any mention of this although it is said he is from Montenegro and studied in Belgrade. My mother who is a Serb from Belgrade say that Gac is assuredly a Serb. Lots of lives were lost to make this distinction. Someone find out?

I come from a long line of Serbian immigrants who did very well in this land of opportunity. My own father came here after World War II without any money and eventually became an executive with an international company. I went to an Ivy League school. Some of my relatives made and lost two fortunes. Gac's story is not a new one to me but it will always be an inspirational one to us all.

[tonywankenobi]

09:12 PM on 05/09/2012

Filipaj is an Albanian last name. There are a lot of albanians from montenegro especially, in ulcini and southern montenegro on the border with albania.

[AlvisMatlija]

10:58 PM on 05/10/2012

Why does it matter what ethnicity he belongs to? This is possibly the least political article it could be. Will it change your opinion if he were Bosnian, Croatian, Slovenian or Albanian? This is a story about grit and determination that can inspire anyone regardless of the background.

And, btw, he is Albanian. Gac is most definitely a catholic Albanian name and Filipaj is a typical Albanian last name as well. He could be from Montenegro or Kosova.

[pekic50]

10:41 PM on 05/13/2012

He is a catholic albanian from Ulcini!!!

[bluejoni2525]

07:47 PM on 05/09/2012

I just LOVE this story !!! This man worked so hard, not for money but for KNOWLEDGE !!!

[NEUDNP]

06:38 PM on 05/09/2012

Truly inspiring!!!

[Kathie Shaffer]

05:50 PM on 05/09/2012

go man go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ricchh]

12:21 PM on 05/09/2012

Congratualtions! The American dream. Work your butt off, and you will go far.