For years, Allen Brooks made a heartfelt promise to his mother, Sarah Pearl Brooks—that he would one day finish college.
In December 2024, at the age of 60, he honored that promise by earning his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies with a concentration in business management from Alabama A&M University.
“It was challenging. The courses were tough, and I was balancing an eight-hour workday along with school, but in the end, it was absolutely worth it,” Brooks, a Brewton, Alabama native, shared with Good Morning America.
His daughter, Brionna Washington, captured the emotional moment he walked across the graduation stage to receive his long-awaited diploma. She posted a video on TikTok, which quickly gained massive attention. The clip went viral, amassing over 50 million views and thousands of congratulatory comments from users who found inspiration in his journey. I’ve been struggling to finish what I started, and seeing this gives me the motivation to keep going,” one commenter shared.
A Long Journey Back to School
Brooks initially began his college education in 1982 at Alabama A&M, attending on a partial band scholarship. However, he left in 1986 without completing his degree.
“I was more committed to the band than my studies. I let myself slide with poor grades here and there,” he admitted. “Eventually, life happened, and I had to step away from school to find a stable job and support myself.”
As the years passed, Brooks built a life and started a family, but his mother never stopped encouraging him to return to school.
That promise stayed with him, and in 2020, he made the decision to re-enroll at Alabama A&M while continuing to work full-time.
Balancing Work, Studies, and Family Support
Returning to school later in life was no easy feat, but Brooks credits his family—especially his mother—for keeping him motivated.
“There were times when studying became overwhelming,” he said. “When I felt stuck preparing for an exam, I would call my mom. Just talking to her made things clearer. After those conversations, everything started to click.”
Sadly, just months before his graduation, Brooks’ mother passed away in July 2024.
“That was hard,” he admitted. “I was doing this for her. But then I thought, ‘Mom is still with me. I can’t stop now.’ I knew she left me right at the finish line, trusting that I would cross it.”
A Message of Perseverance
Now a proud college graduate, Brooks hopes his journey inspires others to chase their dreams, no matter the obstacles.
“Whatever goal you’re striving for, you’re going to face challenges,” he said. The key is to never stop. And even if you do take a break, you can always pick up where you left off.”
His story is proof that it’s never too late to finish what you started.
