
Q&A by David Hoffman
Brenda Trammel (M.Ed. ’24) knows firsthand that anyone can go back to school, no matter their age.
She’s earning her master’s in literacy education this fall after participating in the GSU 62 program, which waives tuition and some fees for individuals who are 62 years old or over who want to earn a degree. In this Q&A, Trammel talks about her educational journey and what it means to her.
Q: What made you choose to earn your degree at Georgia State University?
A: “It was close to home. I originally attended Georgia State University in 1978 but after only attending a few semesters, I quit. I returned in the summer of 2014. I made the President’s List in the summer of 2019. I graduated with my undergraduate degree during COVID-19 in December 2020, and I am graduating with my master’s and a 3.7 GPA in December 2024. I received my bachelor's degree on Dec.18, 2020, and I am receiving my master's degree on Dec. 18, 2024.”
Q: Were there any major achievements/milestones that you reached during your degree program? Tell a little about the achievement/milestone and why it's meaningful for you.
A: “I made President’s List when my mother had passed one year earlier. During my bachelor’s degree, my only sister passed away four months earlier. I want to honor my mother and my sister, who were both educators.”
Q: What did you learn from your mother and your sister? What does it mean to you to earn a master's degree in education, knowing they were educators themselves?
A: “From my mother and sister, I learned that education has no age limit. Earning my master's degree in education is delightful, knowing that I am making my ancestors proud.”
Q: What clubs/organizations/sports/academic-related activities did you participate in during your time at Georgia State? What did you enjoy most about those experiences?
A: “I worked with City of Refuge tutoring adults, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Hearing the different stories of why some participants wanted to better their literacy skills was heartfelt. This experience was a tremendous life-learning lesson. It taught me not to be biased about people and their life choices.”
Q: What was it like learning alongside students younger than you? What did you learn from them, and what do you think they learned from you?
A: “Learning alongside students and instructors younger than me was scary at first. They knew about modern technology, and they helped me tremendously in this area. The students and instructors learned from me about the rich history of growing up in Atlanta in the 1960s. They also learned never to give up!”
Q: What's something you've learned in your degree program that you'll apply to your work after you graduate?
A: “Education has no age. I am 64 years old and still learning!”