72-year-old Darlene Mullins, a
grandmother-of-four will be among the 800 students to graduate from Tennessee
State University, TSU, on the 6th of May. Darlene will be
receiving her degree
55 good years after she started at the institution.
Darlene began her studies in TSU campus in
1962, however, almost immediately, she fell in love with fellow student John
Mullins, a senior from East St. Louis, Illinois, who she described as dashing,
handsome and “everything to behold".
They got married and she had to quit her
education to focus on her new family while John stayed on and graduated in
1964. In putting her education aside, she also had to give up on her dream of
becoming an Olympic track star.
"I came to TSU because I ran track. I
wanted to go to the 1964 Olympics," Darlene said. "Wilma Rudolph was
my idol and I was on my way. I get to TSU and meet the great coach (Ed) Temple,
but we bumped heads, because I had to make a choice between his track team or
Mr. John Mullins."
When her children became a bit older, Darlene
started a career in retail and cosmetology. Her husband, John, also started his
own advertising/marketing business after years of working in corporate and
government organizations and it turned out successful. In spite of Darlene's
success in business, she felt the need to complete her education, so she
decided to make it happen and John supported her fully.
"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.
In July 2013, the couple moved back to
Nashville to allow Darlene to return to TSU and pursue a degree in
interdisciplinary studies. At times, she took as many as 20 credit hours a
semester, and maintained top grades. With the 25 credits she had accumulated
before dropping out in 1963, Darlene is completing her college work in four
years. A member of three honor societies, she is graduating summa cum laude.
This May, Darlene will be among the more than 800 graduates at the
undergraduate spring commencement in the William Jasper Hale Stadium on TSU’s
main campus.
"My graduation from college, for me,
confirms that I completed what I started more than 50 years ago,” Darlene said.
“I am happy."
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