Legendary professional skateboarder Jamie "The Chief" Thomas just proved that it’s never too late to finish what you started.
He recently shared that he finally got his GED at 50 years old.
In a post that hit home for a lot of people, Jamie wrote:
“‘better late than never’
i quit school just after I turned 17 and never looked back. at 50, I signed up for GED classes.with two young adult kids and a 16-year-old still at home, it’s clear how important my example is, so after re-learning algebra & learning how to write an essay, I passed the 4 tests & got my GED.
i’m so grateful my wife encouraged me to make it happen. i now look forward to taking some college courses and continuing to level up. #godisgood”
For someone who helped shape skateboarding through legendary video parts, smart business moves, and nonstop dedication, it’s cool to see The Chief still putting in work in a different part of life. Not for attention but because it means something to him and his family.
Skaters grow up watching guys like him jump down handrails and take gnarly slams, but this kind of move hits differently. It’s not flashy. No crowd is cheering. But it’s real and probably more relatable than any trick.
The Chief's choice to go back and get his GED wasn’t about image.
It was about accountability. It was about showing his kids and maybe even other skaters out there that you don’t have to let the past decide what you do next.
For a lot of people in skating, school wasn’t always a priority.
The streets were the classroom. But life changes, priorities shift, and it’s refreshing to see someone like the Zero head honcho talk openly about going back to learn stuff he left behind decades ago, like algebra and essay writing.
That’s not easy, especially after years of focusing on running brands, making videos, and raising a family.
The 50-year-old isn’t done growing, and that might be the most inspiring part of all this. No matter how old you are, there’s still time to learn something new.