Page 12 - 2017 Annual Report

MEMBER REFLECTIONS
FROM GRANDMOTHER
TO GRADUATE
P hi Kappa Phi members are known for their lifelong love of
learning. On May 6, 2017, Darlene Mullins proved to be a
shining example of this as she graduated from Tennessee State
University at 72 years old.
Her journey to that point, however, began years before when she
first enrolled at the university in 1962.
A high school track star from New Jersey, Darlene’s desire to
attend the university came at an early age. Her interest in TSU was
sparked because of the women’s track team, the Tigerbelles. “It was
my childhood dream to attend TSU and become a Tigerbelle back in
1962,” Darlene explained.
At that point, the university’s track team had already established a “It is a heartfelt feeling to be a member of such a distinguished and
rich Olympic history with several alumnae going on to compete and
win gold medals, the first dating back to 1948.
But as Darlene will be the first to tell you, not all would go
according to plan.
Soon after starting her freshman year at TSU, Darlene met fellow
student John Mullins, a senior from East St. Louis, Illinois.
And everything changed.
The two quickly became college sweethearts. After dating for several my deceased parents’ dream that they had for me when they sent me
months, Darlene and John tied the knot in August 1963. It was at this
point that Darlene decided to cut her academic and athletic career
short to focus on raising a family. John continued on as a student at
TSU and graduated in 1964 with a degree in business.
From there, they experienced life’s journey together, living in
six states and raising their two children. Darlene had a successful
career in retail and cosmetology, and John the same in a number of
business roles before opening his own marketing and advertising
business in Dallas, Texas. After several years as an entrepreneur, John Darlene exemplifies.
retired in 2004.
All the while, Darlene never left his side. And in 2013 after
expressing a desire to go back to school and complete her degree,
John was equally as supportive.
10 PHI KAPPA PHI REFLECTIONS
Darlene and John soon returned to Nashville in July 2013 and
Darlene re-enrolled at TSU—a month before celebrating their 50th
wedding anniversary. She declared her major in interdisciplinary
studies and focused on her classes and coursework, and more
importantly, her end goal.
The hard work, studying and perseverance would soon pay
off when Darlene received an invitation to join Phi Kappa Phi
during her junior year and learned she was in the top 7.5 percent
of her class.
“My reaction when I received an invitation to join The Honor
Society of Phi Kappa Phi was a feeling of joy and honor,” she said.
prestigious honor society.”
Fifty-five years after first enrolling at TSU, Darlene—a wife,
mother and now grandmother—finished what she started. She
walked across the stage as a summa cum laude graduate from TSU on
May 6, 2017.
“On the day of my graduation, I felt a sense of fulfillment and
completion. It was a feeling that my achievement of getting my
degree was worth the long journey,” Darlene said. “I felt closure for
to college in 1962.”
Darlene hopes to be an inspiration to others looking to do the
same, she says. “My advice to any person or student of any age that
wants to pursue an education is that it is challenging and you must
have commitment.”
Commitment being the operative word and one that
“My graduation day was a day of my fulfilled promise and
a commitment to myself, my children, and grandchildren that
you should always finish what you start, especially something as
important as your education.”