COLLEGE OF CANYONS GRADS WORLD'S APART.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

VALENCIA - When 17-year-old Elizabeth Iliescu was born, Europe was still divided by the Berlin Wall, the Internet was the province of university researchers and Judith Adams was about halfway through a 28-year travel agent career.

Both women marked new milestones Friday when they graduated from College of the Canyons.

As the community college's youngest 2003 graduate, Iliescu completed an associate's degree in social science and is halfway through her bachelor's - all just weeks before she graduates from Saugus High School.

``Once you get on a roll, you can't stop. It's like a drug,'' said Iliescu, who plans to study acting. ``You only live once so you might as well make the most of it.''

Adams, 65, is the eldest of the 786 graduates this year. The Chatsworth resident and full-time travel agent gathered units from three different community colleges over three years to earn her degree in library science.

``I don't think there is any time like the present to do what you want to do,'' she said. ``If you say one day you'll climb a mountain, do it now.''

Born and raised in Santa Clarita, Iliescu is a budding actress who has appeared in school theater productions since junior high. She is set to play ``Sandy'' in the Saugus High production of ``Grease.''

She was first drawn to the stage after viewing ``Phantom of the Opera'' at age 5.

``I thought, what better job is there where you can connect with people,'' Iliescu said. ``Even if you connect with just one person ... it's worth it.''

She won her first stage role in eighth grade, playing ``Lucy'' in an Arroyo Seco Junior High production of ``You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.'' Just a year before that, Iliescu began taking night classes at College of the Canyons, starting from general history to in-depth courses in political science and anthropology.

``I wanted to get the (general education) requirements out of the way so I can focus on acting (in university),'' she said.

The age gap did not appear to bother her college-age classmates, Iliescu said.

``No one bugged me about it,'' she said. ``Of course, when they see my mom pick me up, they might get a clue about my age.''

Nor was it an issue for Adams. At a time when most people are considering retirement, she was building a second career as a librarian.

``I was just another student,'' Adams said. ``The library students for the most part were older - fewer teenagers and more women that were going back to school.''

Born in England, Adams has spent much of her life shuttling between the Atlantic. She first traveled to the United States 1957 at age 19 to work for evangelist Billy Graham. On another extended stay, she met her British husband.

In the early 1970s, Adams moved back to the United Kingdom and settled in East Anglia, where she worked as a librarian.

``(Libraries) have such an appeal to me,'' she said. ``I can go to a bookstore or library and the hairs from your arms go up because you're in a place that you love.''

Five years later, the family came to Los Angeles. Adams became a travel agent - a lucrative career that included frequent trips back to her homeland - until the recent downturn brought on by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

``I love being in travel,'' she said. ``But the political scene and the airlines industry with its difficulties, they have to cut the agent commission.''

It was time for a change. Adams gathered units from various community college courses she has taken since 2000 and applied them toward a library science degree.

``If you have a love of reading, you can never be lonely,'' she said. ``You can always cuddle up with a book.''

But even with her degree in hand on the road to a new career, Adams still thirsts for new challenges.

``It's not a pinnacle,'' she said. ``There's a lot I want to explore. To retire and just sit on the couch, I can't do that.''

As for Iliescu, she had few regrets about her choice to forge ahead in school and stage when others were picking out prom dresses. Recently, she skipped her Senior Ball to train for the California High School Speech and Debate Tournament, where she took second place in an event.

``It's been hard on my time, but I would have done the same thing,'' she said. ``Rehearsing is my big social life.''

After graduating from Saugus High next month, Iliescu is set to start at the University of Maryland as a junior. But she also has considered taking a break from school to pursue film and stage roles in Los Angeles.

``Either way, I'm two years ahead,'' she said. ``If I take a year off, it's not going to kill me.''

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Photo:

At 65, Judith Adams will be the oldest graduate in the class of 2003 at College of the Canyons. She's pursuing a degree in library science.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer

Box:

COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS GRADUATES

SOURCE: College of the Canyons