At 82, Billie Jean King graduates with a bachelor's degree in history from Cal State LA, six decades after leaving to pursue her tennis career. She describes this achievement as her most meaningful yet.
Key points
Billie Jean King graduates at 82 years old
Earned a bachelor's degree in history
Left Cal State LA in 1964 for tennis
Won 39 major championships
Considers degree her most meaningful achievement
Mentioned in this story
Billie Jean KingCal State LA
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International Tennis Hall of Famer Billie Jean King has made her fair share of history throughout her illustrious career and now the 82-year-old has a degree to match.
Six decades after leaving Cal State LAÂ to pursue a professional tennis career and become the No. 1 player in the world, King is set to graduate Monday after completing her bachelorâs degree in history. Like a true champion, she likened her return to college to a game of tennis.
"It's like a match. You're shaking hands at net, you know that feeling that it's done. You did your best win or lose," King told USA TODAY's Studio IX on Wednesday. "I'd like to finish. ... That's where I started. I should finish there."
The California native attended Cal State LA from 1961 through 1964 and even won her first Wimbledon doubles title while attending the university. King ultimately decided to leave to take tennis to another level. Thirty-nine major championships and a Presidential Medal of Freedom later, King said earning her degree may be her most meaningful accomplishment yet.
"This is right up there," King said of the accomplishment. "I'm the first one in my immediate family (to graduate college), which is important to me."
King has made a living paving the way for others through her lifelong crusade for gender equality and equal pay, and she's pushing yet another door up open by showing it's "never too late" to pursue education, she said.
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Billie Jean Kingâs career helped shape the womenâs game, from her success on the court to her lasting impact beyond it.
See the moments that trace Kingâs path through a championship career and advocacy for equality in sports.
Above, Tennis player Billie Jean King, June 26th 1962.
American tennis player Billie Jean Moffitt (later King) in action during a semi final in the women's singles championship at Wimbledon, 2nd July 1964.
American tennis player Billie Jean King (Billie Jean Moffitt) in action against Elizabeth Starkie of Great Britain in the second round of the Women's Singles tournament at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London on 24th June 1965.
American tennis player Billie Jean King holds the winner's trophy after the Final of the Women's Singles tournament at Wimbledon, All England Lawn Tennis Club, London, July 1966.
American tennis player Billie Jean King during the Wimbledon championships in London, UK, 2nd July 1966.
Tennis player Billie Jean King of the United States in action at the Women's Singles Final, Wimbledon, 8th July 1967. King went on to beat Ann Jones of Great Britain 6-3, 6-4.
Press photographers gather around as Billie Jean King of the United States holds the Venus Rosewater Dish aloft after defeating Ann Jones of Great Britain in their Women's Singles Final match on Centre Court at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship on 7th July 1967 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, England. Billie Jean King won the match and championship 6 - 3, 6 - 4.
Billie Jean King of the United States during the Women's Singles Final match against Judy Tegart Dalton of Australia at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis championships on 5th July 1968, at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in London, England.
American tennis star Billie Jean King (Billie Jean Moffitt) (centre) sitting at a pavement cafe with tennis partner Carole Caldwell (left).
Billie Jean King stands on the court during a match at Wimbledon in England.
Billie Jean King serves the ball during a match at Wimbledon in England.
Billie Jean King of the United States during the Women's Singles Final match against Margaret Court at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis championships on 3 July 1970, at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in London, England.
A jubilant Billie Jean King of the USA holds up the women's singles trophy at Wimbledon after winning it for the fourth time, beating Evonne Goolagong.
American tennis player Billie Jean King with her trophies at Wimbledon after the Championships, UK, 8th July 1973. She is holding the trophy for the Women's Singles, with the Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles trophies on the table in front of her. She thus completed the coveted 'Triple Crown'.
Billie Jean King during 1974 Family Circle Cup Tournament at Hilton Head.
Billie Jean King during 1974 Family Circle Cup Tournament at Hilton Head.
Billie Jean King of the United States during the Women's Singles Quarterfinall match against Martina Navratilova at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship on 2 July 1980, at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in London, England.
Billie Jean King of the USA in action during the Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon in London July 1982.
Billie Jean King of the USA holds the trophy aloft after the Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon in London. King won the Women's Singles event.
Tennis great Billie Jean King waves as she accepts the 1999 Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 1999 ESPN network's ESPY Awards show at New York's Radio City Music Hall, February 15. King was honored for her lifelong work towards the advancement of women in sports.
US captain Billie Jean King is congratulated by team members after Monica Seles defeated Justine Henin of Belgium in the Fed Cup semi-finals, 22 November 2000, at the Mandalay Bay resort in Las Vegas. Seles won 7-6 (7/1), 6-2.
US Senator Hillary Clinton (L) watches tennis hall of famer Billie Jean King acknowledge the crowd as they watch the match of Serena Williams of the US and Anca Barna of Germany during their first round matches at the 2001 US Open at Flushing Meadows, New York, 27 August 2001.
Women's Sports Foundation founder Billie Jean King speaks during a ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, NY.
Billie Jean King, coach of the US Fed Cup team, encourages Monica Seles in her match against Austria's Barbara Schwartz in Charlotte, NC, 27 April 2002. Schwartz defeated Seles in straight sets 7-6 (9-7), 6-2 to give Austria a 2-0 Fed Cup lead.
Tennis Hall of Famer Billie Jean King attends a press conference for the Women's Sports Foundation annual salute to women athletes in 2004 on October 18, 2004, in New York City. Founded in 1974 by King, the Women's Sports Foundation is a national charitable educational organization seeking to advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity.
Serena Williams, Billie Jean King and Venus Williams pose at the net before the women's final match of the US Open at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York. Venus defeats Serena 6-2, 6-4.
Tennis legend Billie Jean King and USTA President Franklin Johnson pose next to a plaque during the opening ceremony for the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on August 28, 2006, in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York.
Musician Elton John and honoree Billie Jean King share a laugh on stage at "An Enduring Vision" the fifth annual benefit for The Elton John AIDS Foundation at The Waldorf-Astoria October 3, 2006, in New York City.
Tennis player Billie Jean King poses with her World Athlete Award in the media room backstage at the 3rd Annual Women's World Awards at Hammerstein Ballroom October 14, 2006, in New York City.
Former Tennis player Billie Jean King and US figure skater Michelle Kwan pose for a photo during the Women's Sports Foundation's 28th Annual Salute to Women in Sports at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on October 15, 2007, in New York City.
Billie Jean King watches children take part in her tennis mentoring clinic during the Sony Ericsson Championships at the Khalifa Tennis Complex on November 8, 2008, in Dohar, Qatar.
Venus Williams of the U.S. holds her trophy next to tennis great Billie Jean King after defeating Vera Zvonareva of Russia in the WTA Tour Championships final tennis match in Doha November 9, 2008.
Serena Williams (R) holds the Billie Jean King cup presented by Billie Jean King (C) after she beat her sister Venus, holding the consolation trophy, to win the BNP Paribas Showdown tennis match at Madison Square Garden in New York March 2, 2009.
Tennis player Billie Jean King walks onstage during the 30th Annual Salute To Women In Sports Awards at The Waldorf Astoria on October 13, 2009, in New York City.
U.S. President Barack Obama (R) presents the Medal of Freedom to tennis champion Billie Jean King during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House August 12, 2009, in Washington, DC. Obama presented the medal, the highest civilian honor in the United States, to 16 recipients during the ceremony.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth greets Billie Jean King as she attends the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London June 24, 2010. It is the first visit by Queen Elizabeth to the Championships in 33 years.
Tennis legend Billie Jean King receives her Birthday cake during her 70th Birthday Party organized by the Women's Sports Foundation at the Museum of Art and Design on November 6, 2013, in New York City.
Billie Jean King speaks onstage during the Women's Sports Foundation's 35th Annual Salute to Women In Sports awards, a celebration and a fundraiser to ensure more girls and women have access to sports at Cipriani Wall Street on October 15, 2014, in New York City.
Billie Jean King presents back-to-back World Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles with the Sportswoman of the Year Award (individual) during the Women's Sports Foundation's 35th Annual Salute to Women In Sports awards, a celebration and a fundraiser to ensure more girls and women have access to sports, at Cipriani Wall Street on October 15, 2014, in New York City.
Serena Williams of USA shares a joke with Billie Jean King after her win over Simona Halep of Romania in the final during day seven of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals tennis at the Singapore Sports Hub on October 26, 2014, in Singapore.
Billie Jean King poses for a photo backstage at the 2015 Glamour Women Of The Year Awards at Carnegie Hall on November 9, 2015, in New York City.
Billie Jean King attends the 2018 New York City Pride March on June 24, 2018, in New York City.
YYayuk Basuki, Alicia Molik, Lindsey Davenport, Jennifer Capriati, Chris Evert, Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Monica Seles, Kim Clijsters, Iva Majoli, and Tamarine Tanasugarn take a selfie during day 4 of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global at Gardens by the Bay on October 24, 2018, in Singapore.
Womenâs Sports Foundation Founder Billie Jean King presents Billie Jean King Leadership Award to recipient Dawn Staley on stage during The Women's Sports Foundation's 2022 Annual Salute To Women In Sports Gala at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on October 12, 2022, in New York City.
Billie Jean King attends the WTA 50th Anniversary Gala at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on August 25, 2023, in New York City.
Billie Jean King lights the Empire State Building in honor of the Women's Sports Foundation's 50th Anniversary at The Empire State Building on May 02, 2024, in New York City.
Billie Jean King speaks onstage during the 2024 New York #LWTSUMMIT on September 19, 2024, in New York City.
Billie Jean King poses for a portrait ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals 2025 at Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Arena on September 15, 2025, in Shenzhen, China.
Billie Jean King attends her Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony on April 07, 2025, in Hollywood, California.
Billie Jean King of the PWHL speaks with the media prior to a PWHL game at Madison Square Garden on April 04, 2026, in New York City.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean Kingâs career helped shape the womenâs game, from her success on the court to her lasting impact beyond it.
See the moments that trace Kingâs path through a championship career and advocacy for equality in sports.
Above, Tennis player Billie Jean King, June 26th 1962.
1 / 50
Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean Kingâs career helped shape the womenâs game, from her success on the court to her lasting impact beyond it.
See the moments that trace Kingâs path through a championship career and advocacy for equality in sports.
Above, Tennis player Billie Jean King, June 26th 1962.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
American tennis player Billie Jean Moffitt (later King) in action during a semi final in the women's singles championship at Wimbledon, 2nd July 1964.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
American tennis player Billie Jean King (Billie Jean Moffitt) in action against Elizabeth Starkie of Great Britain in the second round of the Women's Singles tournament at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London on 24th June 1965.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
American tennis player Billie Jean King holds the winner's trophy after the Final of the Women's Singles tournament at Wimbledon, All England Lawn Tennis Club, London, July 1966.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
American tennis player Billie Jean King during the Wimbledon championships in London, UK, 2nd July 1966.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Tennis player Billie Jean King of the United States in action at the Women's Singles Final, Wimbledon, 8th July 1967. King went on to beat Ann Jones of Great Britain 6-3, 6-4.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Press photographers gather around as Billie Jean King of the United States holds the Venus Rosewater Dish aloft after defeating Ann Jones of Great Britain in their Women's Singles Final match on Centre Court at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship on 7th July 1967 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, England. Billie Jean King won the match and championship 6 - 3, 6 - 4.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King of the United States during the Women's Singles Final match against Judy Tegart Dalton of Australia at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis championships on 5th July 1968, at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in London, England.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
American tennis star Billie Jean King (Billie Jean Moffitt) (centre) sitting at a pavement cafe with tennis partner Carole Caldwell (left).
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King stands on the court during a match at Wimbledon in England.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King serves the ball during a match at Wimbledon in England.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King of the United States during the Women's Singles Final match against Margaret Court at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis championships on 3 July 1970, at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in London, England.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
A jubilant Billie Jean King of the USA holds up the women's singles trophy at Wimbledon after winning it for the fourth time, beating Evonne Goolagong.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
American tennis player Billie Jean King with her trophies at Wimbledon after the Championships, UK, 8th July 1973. She is holding the trophy for the Women's Singles, with the Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles trophies on the table in front of her. She thus completed the coveted 'Triple Crown'.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King during 1974 Family Circle Cup Tournament at Hilton Head.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King during 1974 Family Circle Cup Tournament at Hilton Head.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King of the United States during the Women's Singles Quarterfinall match against Martina Navratilova at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship on 2 July 1980, at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in London, England.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King of the USA in action during the Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon in London July 1982.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King of the USA holds the trophy aloft after the Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon in London. King won the Women's Singles event.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Tennis great Billie Jean King waves as she accepts the 1999 Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 1999 ESPN network's ESPY Awards show at New York's Radio City Music Hall, February 15. King was honored for her lifelong work towards the advancement of women in sports.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
US captain Billie Jean King is congratulated by team members after Monica Seles defeated Justine Henin of Belgium in the Fed Cup semi-finals, 22 November 2000, at the Mandalay Bay resort in Las Vegas. Seles won 7-6 (7/1), 6-2.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
US Senator Hillary Clinton (L) watches tennis hall of famer Billie Jean King acknowledge the crowd as they watch the match of Serena Williams of the US and Anca Barna of Germany during their first round matches at the 2001 US Open at Flushing Meadows, New York, 27 August 2001.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Women's Sports Foundation founder Billie Jean King speaks during a ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, NY.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King, coach of the US Fed Cup team, encourages Monica Seles in her match against Austria's Barbara Schwartz in Charlotte, NC, 27 April 2002. Schwartz defeated Seles in straight sets 7-6 (9-7), 6-2 to give Austria a 2-0 Fed Cup lead.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Tennis Hall of Famer Billie Jean King attends a press conference for the Women's Sports Foundation annual salute to women athletes in 2004 on October 18, 2004, in New York City. Founded in 1974 by King, the Women's Sports Foundation is a national charitable educational organization seeking to advance the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Serena Williams, Billie Jean King and Venus Williams pose at the net before the women's final match of the US Open at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York. Venus defeats Serena 6-2, 6-4.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Tennis legend Billie Jean King and USTA President Franklin Johnson pose next to a plaque during the opening ceremony for the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on August 28, 2006, in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Musician Elton John and honoree Billie Jean King share a laugh on stage at "An Enduring Vision" the fifth annual benefit for The Elton John AIDS Foundation at The Waldorf-Astoria October 3, 2006, in New York City.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Tennis player Billie Jean King poses with her World Athlete Award in the media room backstage at the 3rd Annual Women's World Awards at Hammerstein Ballroom October 14, 2006, in New York City.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Former Tennis player Billie Jean King and US figure skater Michelle Kwan pose for a photo during the Women's Sports Foundation's 28th Annual Salute to Women in Sports at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on October 15, 2007, in New York City.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King watches children take part in her tennis mentoring clinic during the Sony Ericsson Championships at the Khalifa Tennis Complex on November 8, 2008, in Dohar, Qatar.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Venus Williams of the U.S. holds her trophy next to tennis great Billie Jean King after defeating Vera Zvonareva of Russia in the WTA Tour Championships final tennis match in Doha November 9, 2008.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Serena Williams (R) holds the Billie Jean King cup presented by Billie Jean King (C) after she beat her sister Venus, holding the consolation trophy, to win the BNP Paribas Showdown tennis match at Madison Square Garden in New York March 2, 2009.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Tennis player Billie Jean King walks onstage during the 30th Annual Salute To Women In Sports Awards at The Waldorf Astoria on October 13, 2009, in New York City.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
U.S. President Barack Obama (R) presents the Medal of Freedom to tennis champion Billie Jean King during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House August 12, 2009, in Washington, DC. Obama presented the medal, the highest civilian honor in the United States, to 16 recipients during the ceremony.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Britain's Queen Elizabeth greets Billie Jean King as she attends the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London June 24, 2010. It is the first visit by Queen Elizabeth to the Championships in 33 years.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Tennis legend Billie Jean King receives her Birthday cake during her 70th Birthday Party organized by the Women's Sports Foundation at the Museum of Art and Design on November 6, 2013, in New York City.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King speaks onstage during the Women's Sports Foundation's 35th Annual Salute to Women In Sports awards, a celebration and a fundraiser to ensure more girls and women have access to sports at Cipriani Wall Street on October 15, 2014, in New York City.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King presents back-to-back World Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles with the Sportswoman of the Year Award (individual) during the Women's Sports Foundation's 35th Annual Salute to Women In Sports awards, a celebration and a fundraiser to ensure more girls and women have access to sports, at Cipriani Wall Street on October 15, 2014, in New York City.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Serena Williams of USA shares a joke with Billie Jean King after her win over Simona Halep of Romania in the final during day seven of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals tennis at the Singapore Sports Hub on October 26, 2014, in Singapore.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King poses for a photo backstage at the 2015 Glamour Women Of The Year Awards at Carnegie Hall on November 9, 2015, in New York City.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King attends the 2018 New York City Pride March on June 24, 2018, in New York City.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
YYayuk Basuki, Alicia Molik, Lindsey Davenport, Jennifer Capriati, Chris Evert, Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Monica Seles, Kim Clijsters, Iva Majoli, and Tamarine Tanasugarn take a selfie during day 4 of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global at Gardens by the Bay on October 24, 2018, in Singapore.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Womenâs Sports Foundation Founder Billie Jean King presents Billie Jean King Leadership Award to recipient Dawn Staley on stage during The Women's Sports Foundation's 2022 Annual Salute To Women In Sports Gala at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on October 12, 2022, in New York City.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King attends the WTA 50th Anniversary Gala at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on August 25, 2023, in New York City.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King lights the Empire State Building in honor of the Women's Sports Foundation's 50th Anniversary at The Empire State Building on May 02, 2024, in New York City.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King speaks onstage during the 2024 New York #LWTSUMMIT on September 19, 2024, in New York City.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King poses for a portrait ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals 2025 at Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Arena on September 15, 2025, in Shenzhen, China.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King attends her Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony on April 07, 2025, in Hollywood, California.
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Billie Jean Kingâs tennis career and her lasting impact
Billie Jean King of the PWHL speaks with the media prior to a PWHL game at Madison Square Garden on April 04, 2026, in New York City.
Billie Jean King transforms airplanes to classrooms
King said she'd been mulling the idea of returning to college for some time, thinking she needed two more years to earn her history degree. After BJK Enterprises managing director Marjorie Gantman looked into her transcripts, King was surprised to learn she was a year away.
"I was just talking out loud and (Gantman) goes, 'Well, let me check.' So she checks and she goes, 'Billie, you have three years (completed). I went, 'Three years? Oh, I'm going back for sure,'" King recalled.
King's frequent trips across the globe for events and appearances soon transformed airplanes into classrooms as she completed remote courses, a far cry from her days on campus in the 1960s, when smartphones and laptops didn't exist. Now, you "talk to (your professor) directly online," she marveled.
King took classes ranging from LGBT Political History in United States to Historiography, the History of Latin American Women and Gender and Historical Research & Writing. King said she even had to write an essay on Title IX, a law King played a pivotal role in getting passed.
Choosing to return to school seemed like the right thing to do. Her parents always preached education, but King said didn't fully understand the gravity of her choice until the responses poured in. People shared stories, notes and messages of how King's quest motivated them. For example, Instagram user @JodyBriskin wrote, "You inspired me. Iâm enrolled in Santa Monica College at 75 years old!"
"Graduating, it's just thrilling. Really. I'm thrilled because of the way the other people have responded to this," King said. "I thought, OK, I'm going to get my degree, but I had no idea people would be so connected and feeling this ... in every age group. It's like, 'Oh my God, now I'm excited. Because they are."
'That changed my life'
History has long appealed to King, who was an avid reader that loved to learn about the inner workings of things. King credit her curiosity and unquenchable thirst for knowledge with changing the world.
"Leaders don't choose followers. Followers choose leaders. They just do. And they pushed me and pushed me to lead," King said. "So finally I embraced it. But the reason I was able to lead is because I knew the history of our sport.
"And that made a huge difference. ... That's what helps you envision things differently."
King continues to shape the future through philanthropy, among other endeavors. King said one of her favorite parts of her senior year of college was meeting with incarcerated students enrolled in Cal State LAâs Prison Graduation Initiative. King earned credits for her participation, but the classes were as life-changing for King as it was the women.
Cal State LA is "one of the few schools a few schools have (the program) for incarcerated people," said King, who gave a commencement speech for the first graduating class at the California Institution for Women in October. "I talked to a women's prison and I talked to two men's (prisons)... That changed my life. I mean, all these things happened that I never would've been able to do if I'd gone back to school."
King is set to give a commencement speech at her graduation on Monday, May 18. King said her family will be on her mind as she moves her tassel on her graduation cap from the right to the left side.
"That's my one regret. They're not alive, but boy would they be happy," King said. "My parents, oh my God, would be over the moon because they're big on education. They told (my brother) Randy we have to get our education."
