At 67, After Seven Years of Study and Several Frustrated Attempts, Retired Engineer Achieves First Place in The Unified Public Competition, Known as The Enem of Competitions, and Begins a New Professional Phase in Brasília
Former Eletrobras employee, Ricardo Cunha decided to change the course of his life after leaving the state-owned company in 2013. He realized that he needed to supplement his income as he no longer saw himself returning to the traditional job market. Therefore, he started imagining a future in public service and began seeking ways to prepare himself.
The engineer dove into online classes and preparatory courses. The intense routine took over the last seven years but produced a result that surprised him.
At 67, he achieved first place for Foreign Trade Analyst at the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, in The Unified Public Competition, known as The Enem of Competitions.
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The Move to Brasília
From Rio, Cunha is already preparing to start a new phase. He will move to Brasília, where he should stay for the next seven years.
This is the maximum period until he needs to retire again, according to civil service rules.
He hopes to take advantage of the time to bond with his new colleagues, as he sees it as an opportunity to regain professional ties.
He recalls that he joined Eletrobras in 1985, before the requirement of a competitive examination. It was three decades at the state-owned company, an experience that marked his journey.
A Long Journey to The Approval of The Former Engineer
To achieve his current result, he followed a path similar to many competition candidates. In 2018, he began studying by watching videos on the internet.
Two years later, he enrolled in a preparatory course, believing that structured support would make a difference.
He attempted positions in agencies such as the Court of Auditors and the Office of the Comptroller General. Those attempts did not work out. Nevertheless, he kept insisting.
Questions, Persistence, and Study Routine
The engineer admits that, at several moments, he considered giving up because the competition seemed too fierce. Still, he remained focused.
For the CNU, he dedicated about four hours a day to distance learning classes. This time varied according to his motivation, but he tried to maintain consistency to not lose momentum.
The Result That Renewed His Spirit
The approval brought more than financial stability. Cunha will receive just over R$ 20,900 and feels that he has regained his enthusiasm for working again.
With information from Veja.
You May Also Like: At 104 and Having Never Attended School, She Scored 89 Out of 100 on The Literacy Exam Despite Limitations in Vision and Hearing, Becoming a National Symbol

The journey of Kuttiyamma, who lives in the Indian state of Kerala, gained attention because it shows how education can arise at any moment in life. In 2021, the 104-year-old woman completed the state literacy exam with impressive results.
According to The Times of India, she scored 89 out of 100, thus receiving praise for her performance that surprised everyone.
The achievement drew attention because it places Kuttiyamma among the oldest people in the world to become literate.
The approval occurred in early November 2021 and revealed her ability to write her own address and solve basic arithmetic problems.
These advancements demonstrated how dedication can transform routines even after so many years away from formal study.
Learning Process
According to the Indian newspaper, she never attended school and still achieved a perfect score in mathematics.
The result showed that constant effort surpasses limits imposed by age and difficulties accumulated over time.
Kuttiyamma’s progress was supported by teacher Rehna John, who lives in the same neighborhood. The classes took place at night because it was the quietest time, and the student eagerly waited for the teacher holding the books.
The teacher reports that she spoke louder to ensure understanding because the elderly woman had limitations in hearing and vision.
Despite this, the classes flowed well for three months and created a routine marked by the desire to learn. Her personal story also attracted attention throughout the region.
The Elderly Woman’s Family Life
Kuttiyamma got married at 16 and lived with her husband until 2002, when he passed away. The couple raised five children, and she currently resides with her eldest son Gopalan in the city of Ayarkunnam, maintaining a simple daily routine. The case recently gained public support on Indian social media.
Public Repercussions
The state’s education secretary, V. Sivankutty, stated that age does not hinder learning and posted an encouraging message on Twitter.
He wished success to the elderly woman and to new students because he sees knowledge as a right.
The story gained traction because it inspires adults who interrupted their studies.
The dedication example shows that educational processes can be resumed at any stage and reinforces the importance of policies that bring teachers and communities closer together.
The case also highlighted the role of families, as the support from the eldest son ensured tranquility during the study period.
This support network helped the elderly woman maintain consistency and emphasized that small gestures make a difference.
With information from The Times of India.

Aposentado e já com a renda fixa sem ter que trabalhar e a vida feita pelas conquistas ( casa própria,carro, chácara, apê…etc) tem mais tempo pra estudar.
O que ele esqueceu de ponderar é seu tempo de vida útil.
O dinheiro sempre nos escravizara.
Vai viver da melhor forma possível, um excelente emprego, que poderá lhe proporcionar bons planos de saúde e uma vida mais confortável,e logo se aposentaram…
Durante 7 anos qual era o curso que estava frequentando?