Posted on 04/18/2020 7:54:00 PM PDT by Hojczyk
Years of hard work have paid off for Columbus, Ohio teen Lashawn Samuel.
Living in poverty and struggling with hunger, Samuel had to be hospitalized at times due to health issues, and lost a friend to gang violence.
Nevertheless, the young man walked 3 miles every day from his home to a local library to study and get help with his homework.
Starting in eighth grade, Samuel began his daily walk from his home to the Columbus Metropolitan Library, where he would sign in to the Homework Help Center at 3:00 p.m., work until the center closed, and then walk back home.
Sometimes he walked home in the dark to his Section 8 housing.
Incredibly, the young man has now been accepted to 12 colleges, with several offering a full scholarship — including his dream college, Ohio State University, where he is planning on attending the Fisher College of Business.
Samuel will be the first person in his family to go to college.
The budding scholar said:
"I never would have achieved it without God, my family, my friends and this environment I have around me.
There's always going to be a challenge or an obstacle that you're going to have to overcome or grow out of. But as long as you keep true to yourself and have faith and persevere so that you can overcome it, then you will."
Kelly Young, one of the Homework Help associates at the Columbus Metropolitan Library who helped Samuel, said:
"The kid has tremendous perseverance and he just keeps going.
During a time like this, when we are all facing such uncertainty, I think Lashawn's story can really teach us. Using the resources that are around us in our community and depending on each other,
(Excerpt) Read more at disrn.com ...
Yeah, you’re right. He should have picked a library farther away so he could walk farther than his 6 mile round trip every day for four years. Then he would be a real man like the keyboard commandos who walk 3 miles running errands... occasionally.
The young fellow did not let excuses or negative influences stop him from achieving far more than others around him. Very commendable.
Disagree. Good news should be trumpeted as an inspiration to others. Don't hide the light under the bushel.
I hope he does well.
I usually don't encounter such hatred and disgusting insults on FR over a mild difference of opinion.
Especially on Easter Day.
The amazing and brilliant Dr. Ben Carson has a similar history.
Congratulations young man, make us proud, AGAIN!
Payne went from the projects to Wall Street. Only in America.
This kid has the spirit to be whatever he wants to be. The sky is the limit.
Pray college doesn’t ruin him.
“Payne went from the projects to Wall Street. Only in America.”
I recall him saying (loosely translated) that his school in the projects had a field trip to the Wall Street area when he was around 10, or maybe younger. He saw the business men walking around, well dressed, confident, and carrying briefcases. From that day on, he had made up his mind where he was going. The first Christmas or birthday after the field trip, he asked for a briefcase, which he got, and carried to school. Kids made fun of him, but he was determined. Great success story.
Great backstory on Payne.
A terrific example of the young being impressed enough to succeed themselves.
Unfortunately nowadays we have too many tatted up, foul mouthed, beat up rag wearing “rappers” and athletes that the majority of kids look up too.
I long for the days when boys and young men wore slacks, button up shirts and loafers or lace up polished shoes about town, treated ladies like ladies and never cursed.
Girls and young ladies wore dresses that covered the majority of their bodies, kept their hair clean and brushed and spoke politely.
A fella can dream can’t he?
That’s true.
What a wonderful kid. Sounds like the young Ben Carson. Every good luck and blessing to him!
I used to do that because I didn’t like riding the bus
What you said.
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