Inspiring 72-year-old woman graduates college after 55 years

Every graduate has a story to tell, and for Darlene Mullins, her story started 55 years ago.

The now 72-year-old graduated from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday.

A track star training for the 1964 Olympics at the historically black college, Darlene met her husband-to-be, John Mullins, there in 1962.

The pair instantly fell for each other, spending all their spare time together. But Darlene's track coach offered her an ultimatum: the track team, or John.

The now grandmother of four, chose John.

“I thought he was the finest thing walking on the campus,” Darlene told the HBCU’s campus magazine.

After finishing her freshman year with 25 credits, the couple were married in 1963.

Although John graduated in 1964 and began working, Darlene was a stay-at-home mother to their son and daughter.

The family lived in six states during their marriage and throughout the years, Darlene's go-getter mentality allowed her to flourish in retail and manage a few million dollar salons in Dallas and Atlanta. She also took a few classes at local public institutions along the way.

But Darlene always wanted to finish school. That feeling intensified when the couple visited the HBCU for homecomings and other celebrations.

“Something kept nagging at me,” she told the magazine. “I always told my children to make sure they finish what they started and I kind of felt it was time to live up to my own advice.”

John has always been supportive of Darlene going back to school. He told TSU that he knew the day would come when she would decide to finish her degree.

“I love this woman so much and always told her whenever you are ready we will go, because this is something I knew she always wanted and I will do nothing to hold her back,” John said.

After John retired and their children moved out, the couple returned to Nashville in July 2013, before Darlene finally re-enrolled.

Although she struggled to adjust to the technological advances in the classroom, the ex-track star was determined to finish no matter how long it took, achieving top grades each semester.

After completing four years, Darlene finally graduated summa cum laude with an honours degree in interdisciplinary studies and a minor in communications.

“I feel like God has given me a second chance. Actually, I feel like I’m in heaven looking down,” she told NC5.

She hopes that her story can inspire others pursuing a degree.

“My advice about education, I try to tell the kids try to do it the first time,” she said. “But if for any reason that you don’t, just keep going back, keep going back because it’s never too late.”

All images taken from Tennessee State University Newsroom