AMERICA | 44-year-old blind man bags bachelors degree at US university, celebrates success.
A 44-year-old man named Julian Walker has earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Tennessee State University (TSU) in the United States, defying the odds despite his blindness.
According to TSU’s website, Julian lost his vision in a car accident in Nashville in 2012. The drastic life change meant relearning daily tasks, from using braille to mastering specialized software.
Yet, despite these challenges, he remained focused on achieving his academic dreams. Julian was the only blind student in the university’s 2023 graduating class.
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“I am proud of myself. This isn’t entirely about me walking across the stage. A lot of this is for my children, so they can see that you can get a degree and finish school even if you are blind. I am just trying to give them motivation for their journey through college,” he said.
Julian, who has three sons and a daughter aged 12 to 16, says his degree is also for his family.
Julian’s college journey began at Emory University after high school, but he did not finish at that time. In 2019, he completed an associate’s degree at Nashville State Community College, reigniting his passion for education.
Reflecting on his motivation, he said,” “I need to complete what I started back then. I wanted to see if I could go to school as a blind person.
He credited TSU’s Office of Disability Services for providing invaluable support. “Anytime I needed help, the office was right on top of it. Even if it was moving around the buildings, they made sure if I needed assistance, they would walk around with me,” he said.
Walking across the stage was more than a personal accomplishment—it was a reminder that people with disabilities are fully capable of earning degrees.
“That’s where the fuel comes from every day. We need to see more disabled people who are aware of these resources at TSU. They can do it too,” he said. Julian’s journey has not been without further setbacks.
In 2021, he suffered a fall that led to two minor strokes. But after recovering, he remained resolute in his pursuit of education.
Dr. Anita McGaha, Director of the Office of Disability Services, expressed her pride in Julian’s perseverance. “Julian represents TSU and students with impairments. Just because you learn differently doesn’t mean you can’t succeed,” she said.
Julian now looks forward to applying his degree, either in his family’s business, Germantown Pub, or with a disability services office in Nashville, Tennesse United States.
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