Sometimes reaching the finish line begins long before you walk up to receive a diploma.
Xavier Jones was 14 years old and determined to attend his eighth-grade graduation ceremony in St. Louis, Missouri. The problem was that he had no transportation to get to the place where it was being held, so he decided to walk there.
He left early with his brother and walked nearly 10 kilometers over approximately two hours. He did it even in his torn sneakers, because missing one of the most important days of his school years simply wasn’t an option for him.
His story reached Latonia Collins Smith, president of Harris-Stowe State University, who was moved by the teenager’s determination. During the ceremony, Xavier received a surprise he probably never imagined when he began that walk: a full scholarship to study at the university for four years.
His effort to make it to one graduation ultimately secured him the opportunity to attend another one someday.
Sometimes reaching the finish line begins long before you walk up to receive a diploma.
Xavier Jones was 14 years old and determined to attend his eighth-grade graduation ceremony in St. Louis, Missouri. The problem was that he had no transportation to get to the place where it was being held, so he decided to walk there.
He left early with his brother and walked nearly 10 kilometers over approximately two hours. He did it even in his torn sneakers, because missing one of the most important days of his school years simply wasn’t an option for him.
His story reached Latonia Collins Smith, president of Harris-Stowe State University, who was moved by the teenager’s determination. During the ceremony, Xavier received a surprise he probably never imagined when he began that walk: a full scholarship to study at the university for four years.
His effort to make it to one graduation ultimately secured him the opportunity to attend another one someday.