Even though Martin University students are typically between the ages of 25 and 37, Nevalene Burks set out to pave the way for the next generation.
The 67-year-old chose to return to school to get a degree in psychology at Indianapolis’ only predominantly Black university.
Burks dropped out of high school at 16 and later earned her GED. She told 5News, “When I walk down these halls, I feel empowered. These halls have so much history. I don’t know anything about computers. As I told you, my phone is smarter than me, but I’m learning.”
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Burks had expressed her desire to be a doctor. She returned to the classroom with a drive to learn more.
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“I feel young at 67. It’s not old to me, so bring it,” she said, laughing. “I am a freshman. I am learning and I’m doing.”
Burks attends classes two nights per week with the goal to become a psychiatrist.
She stated, “When I come in, what’s funny is, they’ll say, ‘Look at that old lady.’ I’m like, ‘Old lady? Are you kidding me? I’m young. What are you talking about?'”
At her age, she isn’t hesitant to appear in unusual places. Burks was a member of a delegation that went to the governor’s office only recently to request that funding for Martin University be included in the proposed budget.
“They need the funding, because they’re making differences in so many lives,” Burks explained. Her desire to make a difference is also the reason she is in school.
She said she became aware of a story of a woman killed by her estranged husband while watching the news.
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“I was watching the TV and there was this young woman that I knew, not as a friend, but as an associate,” Burks said. “She didn’t have to die.”
She stated that she identified aspects of her own life in the tragedy and resolved to take action to prevent similar disasters.
“You turn on the TV; there’s another woman that has been killed or bothered; there’s several killings at night,” she went on.
Burks decided to return to school and complete her degree because she wanted to change this.
“I said, ‘Here I come, Martin University. We gotta get busy, cause I got a job to do,'” Burks recalled thinking.
Burks sees returning to school as much more significant than the celebration of a graduation ceremony with a diploma to display.
“I’m not just looking for a degree to say I got a paper. I don’t even have to walk across the stage,” Burks said.
Regardless of her age, she believes that it is important to make a difference in the lives of the next generation.
“Here I am at 67 and I’m going to do it,” she said.
