In December 2024, at the age of 60, Allen Brooks fulfilled a long-standing promise to his mother, Sarah Pearl Brooks, that he would complete college by earning a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts with a business management concentration from Alabama A&M University.
On a partial band scholarship, Brooks enrolled at Alabama A&M for the first time in 1982 but departed before finishing his studies in 1986. He established a life and a family throughout the years, but his mother never stopped pushing him to go back to school. He was determined to achieve his long-time dream and eventually reenrolled in 2020 while juggling full-time employment.
Brooks persevered despite the difficulties of balancing demanding coursework and employment. He frequently called his mother for encouragement when he was having academic difficulties. He remembered, “She was with me every step of the way.”
Sadly, Brooks’ mother died in June 2024, a few months before he graduated. He was distraught, but he believed she was still with him in spirit and was determined to complete what he had begun.
Brionna Washington, Brooks’ daughter, posted a heartfelt TikTok video of his graduation, and it went viral right away, receiving over 50 million views. Thousands were touched by the film, and many viewers shared how his tenacity inspired them to finish their own academic endeavours. Brooks looked back on his journey and expressed his hope that his experience might inspire others to follow their dreams. “You can always pick up where you left off,” he remarked.
CREDIT: ALLSCHOOL, Allschoolabs
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