“Because I have everything to lose,” a teenager who has been homeless for 12 years graduates top of his class.
High school isn’t always a pretty place for everyone; The stress of work and trying to fit in can make it an experience many students would rather forget.
After successfully completing this stressful journey, students can look forward to graduation.
But until he gave a special speech at their graduation as part of his commendations, a group of teenagers had no idea what challenges one of their classmates was facing.
The best student has a GPA of 3.9-4.0, which is a minimum of 95% on all assignments.
This is no small feat for most students and requires a level of dedication worthy of such recognition, but Griffin Furlong did it while living on the streets.
Griffin Furlong is on RIGHT NOW on @GMA. #HomelessValedictorian. Tune in! pic.twitter.com/QvbtCAmIuJ
— First Coast News (@FCN2go) June 13, 2014
The devoted student has spent the last 12 years of his life sleeping on people’s couches and in shelters.
Griffin did not have a happy childhood because his mother died of an illness and his father was struggling financially.
He, his father and older brother had been homeless for more than a decade and had to attend high school without a room of their own. He had no place to sleep, rest or study because he had no place to sleep, rest or study.
Against all odds, he not only graduated, but also took first place in his class. According to one of his teachers, Griffin was the only child who never missed an assignment.
Griffin reminded a crowd of 500 children, most of whom were unaware of Griffin’s plight, that “giving up is not an option.”
“I’ve lost track of how many sleepless nights I’ve spent alone on a chilly plastic mattress. “I grieved within, hoping that my existence would wash away soon so that I wouldn’t have to deal with the challenges of an apparently wicked world,” he explained.
“No matter how much I wanted to, I never gave up.” To everyone who has come before me, please do not live a life without meaning. You know deep down that you have something to show. So never make excuses, whether you recognize it or not, especially when you have a loving family who can provide you with everything you need and want.”
During his senior year of high school, the Florida student was given room to dwell in by his girlfriend’s family, and he hopes to pursue an engineering degree at Florida State University.
“I simply want to show that no matter what you’ve been through, you can do it.” I never want to go back to that life. He told ABC News, “I do all I do because I don’t want to live like that.”
He and his partner intend to establish a scholarship to assist youngsters in similar situations.
In an interview with TODAY.com, he remarked, “Just never give up.” “Never let somebody tell you that you can’t do something because I’ve always been told that.” People used to tell me I wasn’t smart, but today I’m at the top of my class.”
I can’t fathom how stressful this is for a teenager who already has to deal with school, friends, sports, and peer pressures, but to get through it all and still maintain top grades at school is incredible.
By sharing this article, you can help us congratulate this incredible young guy.
