AMERICA | 72-year-old, Anniatha McMillan has finally achieved her lifelong dream of earning a university degree after years of abandoning her education. Anniatha will now study for a bachelors degree at Robeson County Community College (RCC).
For her, returning to school was not just about earning a degree; it was about celebrating life, resilience, and faith after years of loss and recovery. “They will look at you like you’ve lost your mind. But I’m doing this for me,” she said.
McMillan's Story and How She Did It
In 2005, Anniatha and her husband were involved in a ghastly car accident. The crash claimed her husband’s life and left her fighting for her own.
“There was an explosion, and I had to be pulled out of the car. They cut the top off. Somehow, I made it out alive,” she recalled.
The recovery period was one of deep pain, both physical and emotional. But Anniatha found strength in her faith.
Together with her sister, she started a Teaching and Deliverance Ministry, holding services over the phone. Though many criticized the idea, they continued the ministry holding service every Sunday.
It was during the COVID-19 pandemic years later that she realized just how far ahead of time her vision had been.
“When COVID broke out, God said, ‘I’m changing things, come out of the building. And every Sunday, we were faithful to the Lord,” she said.
Through her ministry, McMillan met a kind-hearted farmer from Robeson County, a deacon who shared her faith and values. Their bond grew, and they got married. “The Bible says a good man findeth a good wife, but I asked him to marry me,” she said.
Her new life on the farm brought her peace as she spent her days tending to flowers and enjoying quiet moments with her husband. But soon, knee pain and high blood pressure limited her activities.
As she sat idle, she began to feel that something was missing. “I thought, I’ve got to do something. I’m just wasting away,” she said.
That thought reignited a dream she had long set aside, to finish her education. Years earlier, Anniatha was taking college classes after work, but eventually stopped due to the challenges she faced.
Encouraged by her husband, who holds multiple certificates and degrees from RCC, she decided it was time to go back.
“You may never be encouraged to go, but I needed that push. So I thought, maybe I’m not too old. I could still get my degree,” she said.
She started with English developmental classes and proved that age was no barrier to learning. Her instructors describe her as thoughtful, hardworking, and inspiring.
Anniatha is such a role model to the other students. She’s a good writer and a good thinker, her teacher at RCC, Angela Lamb, said.
Her passion for writing has flourished. Through an essay she wrote titled “Happiness,” she expresses gratitude for life, finding meaning in everyday joys, from sunshine and flowers to simply being alive.
“Finding happiness is a journey. It’s the feeling people get when they know that life is good,” she wrote.
Anniatha stated that college has given her more than knowledge; it has given her purpose.
“Writing essays helps broaden my mind. It makes you more conscious of what you say and how you say it. I’m never going to stop,” she said.
For others who dream of returning to school, Anniatha encouraged them to start and be determined.
“Try it. Just take one class at a time, like I’m doing. There’s no hurry. Whatever makes you happy, do it. Go back to school, sit on the porch, work in your flower garden — whatever makes you happy, that’s what you need to do,”she advised.
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