TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A former military officer graduated from Tamkang University's Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies Sunday, receiving his master's degree at the age of 84. Wang Jung-ching (王榮慶) received his diploma at a commencement ceremony Sunday, along with 40 others who also finished their studies at the graduate institute. But Wang, who served in the military for over two decades and retired with the rank of colonel, caught more attention than others for overcoming the challenges for a man in his 80s to finish the course, such as language and computer skills. One of the challenges, Wang told the university's Tamkang Times, was professor Ho Szu-yin's (何思因) class on U.S. foreign policy, because it was taught in English. Wang hand-wrote his thesis of nearly 40,000 characters, titled "A Study of the Reform of Taiwan's Military Service System," before his granddaughter typed it on a computer. Meanwhile, his fellow students were impressed by his commute between Taoyuan and the university in New Taipei over the past four years. Wang, who only studied two years in junior high school before being enrolled in the Republic of China Military Academy, said his time serving in the military sparked his interest in national security and strategy. He obtained a senior high school degree during his time in the military and studied at National Open University after retiring from the forces. Wang, a member of the Society of Strategic Studies R.O.C., said he made the decision to study for a master's degree after a chat with Thomas Lee, a professor emeritus specializing in American studies at the university. He said being studious is what allowed him to finish the four years of study and he added that it is great to achieve a goal in life.