Harlem Woman Defies Odd, Graduate University at 48

Ebony Chappel, a woman of 48 years, has achieved her university graduation, a milestone reached 32 years post her high school completion.

A native of Harlem, Ebony encountered numerous obstacles throughout her life, but none were able to hinder her path to success, as reported by Fox News. Despite her impoverished upbringing and subsequent high school dropout due to disciplinary issues, she remained undeterred.

She shared, “Originally in Harlem, I went to Martin Luther King High School, and I got into some trouble, and I got kicked out, and I had to go to an alternative school.” She disclosed that  she graduated at 17, and became a mother at the tender age of 18.

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Ebony’s journey continued as she raised three children and six grandchildren, and pursued a career as a hairdresser. In 2019, she obtained her General Educational Development (GED), a series of tests that certify the taker’s academic knowledge as equivalent to a high school diploma. Following this, Ebony launched her own clothing manufacturing business and eventually applied to her dream institution, Clark Atlanta University.

Ebony revealed that she was initially unaware that her GED could grant her admission to the university, as she had not taken the SAT or ACT. However, the COVID-19 pandemic altered the admission requirements. She enrolled in a fashion design course at Clark Atlanta University, United States. She stated, “I didn’t know with having a GED that I could get into a prestigious school like this. I hadn’t taken the SAT or ACT. But I came at the right time because normally they would, but coming in right after COVID, I didn’t have to.”

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During her time at the university, Ebony faced numerous challenges, including surviving a fire accident and suffering a stroke due to her philanthropic efforts in mask production. She explained, “I was making so many masks and giving them away and making them for people that I wound up having a stroke.”

Despite the adversities, Ebony expressed that the university had a profound impact on her, inspiring her to return as a teacher in the future.

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She outlined her next steps as earning a master’s degree in business, followed by a master’s in fashion, and then moving to Paris. In her words, “My next step is getting my masters in business and then after that I am going to get my masters in fashion and go to Paris.”