Homeless 18-Year-Old Achieves Academic Triumph, Secures Full-Ride Scholarship to Harvard
His journey took a positive turn when he received support from the non-profit after-school program Mighty Writers. This program enhanced his writing skills, enabling him to apply to competitive high schools. Jenkins was accepted into Girard College in Pennsylvania, a full-scholarship boarding high school catering to students from single-parent families with limited financial resources.
AKACHI NOEL 
Richard Jenkins, an 18-year-old who faced homelessness during his childhood, has emerged as the best student in his high school and earned a full-ride scholarship to Harvard University.
Growing up in homeless shelters with his family after losing their home to foreclosure, Jenkins used the challenges as motivation to break free from the cycle of poverty. Determined to create a better future for his family and unborn children, he excelled academically despite the adversities.
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His journey took a positive turn when he received support from the non-profit after-school program Mighty Writers. This program enhanced his writing skills, enabling him to apply to competitive high schools. Jenkins was accepted into Girard College in Pennsylvania, a full-scholarship boarding high school catering to students from single-parent families with limited financial resources.
Throughout his time at Girard College, Jenkins achieved straight-A's, securing a 100% high school record and earning the title of the best graduating student in his class. He then applied to multiple universities, including three Ivy League schools. Despite being waitlisted at the University of Pennsylvania and rejected by Yale University, he received acceptance from Harvard University on a full-ride scholarship to pursue Computer Science.
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Harvard's financial aid program covers 100% of tuition for students from households earning less than $65,000 a year, providing crucial support for Jenkins coming from a homeless family.
Reflecting on his accomplishment, Jenkins expressed disbelief upon reading the news and emphasized his goal of attending a debt-free school. His ambition is to use his knowledge of computers to invent a more intuitive Siri.
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Graduating from Harvard in 2022 with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Jenkins encourages others to find their passion, work towards it, and emphasizes the importance of dialogue between students and teachers during challenging times.
