Everyone encounters challenges that seem impossible to escape, but everyday stories surface which show we should never give up hope. One of these stories is told by Griffin Furlong, a young man who graduated at the top of his class despite being homeless.
“Everyone thinks I try to make good grades because I’m smart. Not true, I perform the way that I do in the classroom because I have everything to lose. I make the grades I do because I was once lost and had nothing,” he said in his graduation speech.
When Furlong was 6-years-old his mother died of leukemia and their family lost their home shortly after due to financial difficulties from the medial bills. For years, Furlong and his family were back and forth between homeless shelters and temporary homes.
“I just want to show that anyone can do it, no matter what you’ve been through. I never want to live a life like that again. I do everything I do because I don’t want to live like that,” Furlong said.
His 4.65 grade point average secured is entrance into Florida State University where he plans to study civil engineering. Money wont be a problem either because he has recieved over $40,000 in donations from people around the world who were inspired by his story.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5iEhd-hW_k]
John Vibes writes for True Activist and is an author, researcher and investigative journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture and the drug war.
