When Kathryne Smith was young, her dad told her she was going to college. But to her, college was nothing but an abstract idea -- like trying to visualize something while reading a book with no illustrations.

The word found its meaning when her family moved to Pittsburgh from Philadelphia in the 1930s.

When the family passed the University of Pittsburgh someone said, 'That's college.' And I said 'Oh, that's where my father wanted me to go.' "

Now, at 88, Mrs. Smith tomorrow will be the oldest student ever to graduate from the Community College of Allegheny County.

But her newest degree -- in child and family studies -- is just another one to add to the pile.

The pile includes associate degrees in medical records transcription and teacher education from CCAC, as well as a bachelor's degree in science from Pitt.

The latest degree took the Homewood grandmother seven years to complete, with most of the classes held at the Allegheny campus on the North Side.

Enrolling at CCAC in 1969, she took one class a semester while working in medical offices and volunteering.

As a result, she has been in school for nearly 40 consecutive years -- mostly surrounded by people who are anywhere from 40 to 70 years younger than her. She even took a class with her son, John, who is now 61.

None of it fazes her.

"It doesn't bother me at all," she said. "The students have been really encouraging."

Some students have urged bus riders to move away from the door so she could board more easily, and in almost every class, at least one person politely inquired about her age.

During a sex education discussion in a sociology class, a student turned to her and asked, "Does this bother you?"

Mrs. Smith just laughs. She said her experience has given her an increased strength of mind.

"Of course I've been blessed with good health, but I've learned that almost anything is possible if you make yourself get up and go. It just is."

That is the mindset she is trying to ingrain in the minds of first graders at Manchester Elementary School, where she volunteers. She takes students aside during class and talks to them if they seem to be having trouble.

"I am an African American, and I know so many young people who don't have school as their top interest. I'm trying to make it important to them because for so many of them it's just not. I don't know if they give up or just don't realize, but I try to make them want to learn, I really do."

That is part of the reason she decided to get degrees in teacher education and child and family studies, in addition to volunteering at a number of schools.

"I worked for many different school boards, and I just wanted to see if what we learned matched what I saw in the schools." She confirmed that it did.

In addition to tending to her family, which includes daughter Peggy, 60, who lives with her, granddaughter Bridgette Brown, 24, of California, and a number of great-grandchildren, Mrs. Smith spends much of her time trying to encourage kids to believe it is a good thing to dream. And staying true to her ideals, she has not stopped dreaming herself.

Two things remain on her bucket list: a trip to Hawaii, and, most important, a trip to the New York Metropolitan Opera to see Lucia di Lammermoor -- something she has wanted to do since she heard it on the radio in high school.

And what will she do until then?

"Believe it or not, I'm going back to CCAC," she said. "But just for fun. I'm going to learn how to play the guitar. My son bought it for me about 10 years ago, and I've never learned."

CCAC's graduation will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow at the A. J. Palumbo Center, Uptown. An estimated 450 of the school's 2,300 graduates are expected to attend, including its youngest student, Amanda Scheboth, 15, of West Deer.