Gabe Del Bello graduates from McMaster University alongside his children

More than 25 years ago, Gabe Del Bello left university just one course shy of graduating with a degree in political science.

When his mother died in the mid-'80s, Del Bello abandoned his degree and focused on supporting his family. He went on to build a successful business and raise a family in Hamilton, Ontario.

The idea of finally completing his degree surfaced as his son, Johnny, and daughter, Alex, prepared for their last semester at McMaster University.

"They were getting their degrees," Del Bello, 49, told CBC News. "I thought well, 'You know what? I worked so hard when I was young to be where they were at and I saw how they succeeded and got that piece of paper that I went three years for, four years for, why not just finish it?'"

"I thought, it would be pretty cool to graduate with my kids 30 years after I actually started school," he told McMaster's Daily News. "So I decided to go back."

He took Media, Art, and Anthropology — and sat next to his daughter.

"It was kind of nice that I could go with them," Del Bello said. "I don't think I would have if…I wasn't able to take something with them."

"It was a culture shock at first. The technology is so much more advanced than when I was young and going to school here. But it was a great experience, and so much fun," he added.

Del Bello ended up with a B+.

"He got a higher mark on his essay than me!" Alex told CBC News. "He was so worried, didn't write an essay in how long? Like 30 years, and he gets, what, 5 more percent than me? I was like, 'You have to be kidding me.'"

On Friday, Del Bello crossed the convocation stage directly in front of Johnny, also a social sciences graduate.

Alex, an art history student, graduated last Tuesday.