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Michael Jeffery, a native of Washington, D.C., who lost two jobs and his house during the epidemic, has overcome adversity to graduate as valedictorian of his class at Goodwill Excel Center High School. Furthermore, he is determined to attend law school.
Jeffery ended up living in a tent under a bridge in the D.C. Navy Yard neighborhood after falling on hard times during the pandemic.
Despite his difficult circumstances, Jeffery refused to give up. While still living on the streets, he enrolled in classes at the Goodwill Excel Center, a free high school program for adults.
“I didn’t want to be stuck out here. I don’t wish this on anybody, to be stuck out here,” Jeffery told NBC Washington.
Jeffery’s efforts came rewarded after a year of hard work and determination. He recently graduated as the class valedictorian. He moved out of the tent and into a new apartment just before graduation.
“A lot of people don’t get that second chance, and Goodwill allowed that second chance for me, and I appreciate that,” Jeffery added.
With his high school certificate in hand, Michael is aiming even higher. He has enrolled at Catholic University for the upcoming fall semester and intends to pursue legal studies with the goal of attending law school in the future.
“I’m studying legal studies. Who would’ve thought that I would be studying legal studies, right? There was no hope in this tent, but I found it, so you see how far I’ve come and how far I will get,” he said.
