A St. Louis, Missouri, teen, who walked virtually three hours to his center college commencement ceremony, has been awarded a full scholarship to Harris-Stowe State College.
The president of the 166-year-old establishment mentioned the younger man’s perseverance impressed her and now he won’t must pay for school.
On the day of Xavier Jones’ eighth-grade commencement from the Yeatman Center College, nobody in his household was capable of get him to the ceremony over six miles away.
On Tuesday, Could 23, the resilient 14-year-old didn’t let that deter him from getting his diploma.
Decided to attend the promotion ceremony, he, his brother, and a pal all agreed to stroll the space from his dwelling on Florissant Avenue to the midtown campus of HSSU, the place this system was being held.
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“I used to be going to inform an grownup, however my grandpa’s automobile was down. So, I used to be simply going to stroll there,” Jones mentioned in an interview with KMOV.
As an alternative, he mentioned, “I regarded up Harris Stowe College on Google Maps, after which I noticed the strolling distance, after which I mentioned I might most likely make it.”
His grandfather nor the college employees have been conscious of Jones’ determination to stroll and have been shocked to find the purpose that was set and met by the teenager.
When requested what motivated him to make the trek, Jones, who was promoted with a 4.0, merely mentioned, “I needed to stroll throughout the stage.”
The teenager, who desires to be a NASCAR driver, informed KSDK he additionally needed to get all his “awards and stuff.”
Darren Seals, a mentor from the Sankofa Group Middle, was giving a speech throughout the commencement when Jones arrived and mentioned he stopped instantly.
He informed these gathered within the meeting, “Everybody, get off your ft. Give him a standing ovation.”
In line with Seals, folks have been shocked saying, “Whoa, this boy walked.”
Afterward, the mentor shared, “The footwear that he walked in had holes within the backside, holes within the prime. An extended highway, I wouldn’t have walked it.”
The HBCU’s president Latonia Collins Smith was equally impressed after Seals instantly informed her the story of Jones’ day.
“After I heard that story, and to see that younger man, who was so brilliant and simply excited and pushed, it spoke volumes to me. It spoke resilience, persistence, perseverance,” she mentioned, including that it confirmed her that Jones believed “no matter what the adversity is, I’m going to press my option to this promotion ceremony.”
Smith mentioned that’s what sparked her curiosity in Jones’ future. She provided the younger scholar a full experience to the faculty on the spot. The presidential scholarship is valued at $64,000 and can cowl 4 years of tuition, room and board, books and charges. Now all Jones has to do is graduate from highschool.
“On the finish of the rainbow, there’s a pot of gold. I realized so much from Xavier that day. Even in your worst day preserve urgent ahead,” Smith mentioned.
Seals mentioned he tells all of his college students that they’re larger than their circumstances and might beat down any impediment earlier than them.
“Change the norm, that’s what I inform the youngsters. Change the norm. Regardless of should you reside a nightmare, by no means hand over,” he explains. “When God provides you a imaginative and prescient in your sleep, you get up like I can’t try this. No, you are able to do it ’trigger he gave it to you.”
Jones mentioned Seals had lengthy impressed him not to surrender. He mentioned Seals informed him, “If I need it, I bought to go get it.”
When Collins Smith first informed him that she was giving him a “full experience,” he had no concept what that meant.
In line with Seals, Jones thought that meant he was going to get a experience dwelling from the ceremony.
“I used to be like, ‘No, you’re getting a experience to varsity.’ He mentioned, ‘Wait a minute. I don’t must pay for school?’ Then it began hitting him,” the mentor shared.
After the ceremony, the president organized for him to obtain a tour of the college’s campus.
The subsequent week, the president and Bennie Gilliam-Williams, particular assistant to the president and college occasions coordinator organized for Jones to satisfy Worldwide Expertise Raceway proprietor and president Curtis Francois and obtain a pair of tickets to the Illinois Take pleasure in 300 on Sunday, June 4.
Whereas reflecting on that day, Jones informed the St. Louis American, “I didn’t know I used to be going to get a scholarship. I simply needed to carry my very own [diploma.]”
