Future Lawyer Completes Lifelong Goal of Earning College Degree
Phyllis Harrington believes that it鈥檚 never too late to follow your dreams.
At 51, this mother of three and grandmother of 10 from Little Rock has completed her dreams of graduating from college.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e never too old to follow your dreams,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ometimes people think their ages will stop them from going after their dreams, but you are never too old.鈥�
Harrington will graduate this December with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in criminal justice, but her educational journey is far from over. She is currently taking a preparatory course at the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law to take the LSAT exam and plans to enroll at Bowen in the fall.
鈥淏ecoming a lawyer was always a dream of mine,鈥� Harrington said. 鈥淭his is what I wanted to become as a child. After I graduated from high school, I got married and had a baby. I tried to go back to school multiple times, but it was really difficult with having a family. Now everyone is grown, and God keeps nudging at you to finish your goals.鈥�
The time was finally right for Harrington to become a college graduate, thanks to no small amount of effort on her part. Throughout 2023, Harrington has completed nearly 60 credit hours during the spring, summer, and fall semesters to finish up her bachelor鈥檚 degree.
鈥淭his year has been extraordinary,鈥� Harrington said. 鈥淚 have to pinch myself to remind myself that this is actually real. When I鈥檝e attempted college in the past, it was nothing like this. Attending 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has been totally different. It was easy for me this year because of my belief and my faith.鈥�
Her college degree is just the latest accomplishment for this career-minded professional.
She currently serves as an associate minister at Faithway Baptist Church in Little Rock while working as a realtor, real estate instructor, and private investigator. Unfortunately, Harrington鈥檚 real estate office was destroyed during the tornado that hit Little Rock in March, so rebuilding her real estate office will be another goal for the new year.
On top of all of her professional and educational achievements, Harrington is a founding member of a nonprofit organization, Breath of Silence: Speak Out America, with the goal of stopping sexual abuse.
鈥淲e started in 2013 with the goal of stopping sexual abuse to children through awareness and education,鈥� Harrington said. 鈥淲e offer hope and healing to survivors. With me being a survivor myself, I knew I wanted to do everything I could to prevent this from happening to other children.鈥�