Washington D.C.’s Ward 8 may not be a neighborhood known for its affluence. But five of America’s most prestigious universities are fighting for one 17-year-old, born and raised in the D.C. area typically characterized for its neglect, proving difficult circumstances can't keep you from being Ivy League material.
Avery Coffey has been accepted to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, and University of Pennsylvania -- a feat difficult for any high school senior to achieve no matter where he or she is from. The high school senior is poised to graduate from Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, an institution known for its exceptional track record with college acceptance rates. The school has had a perfect track record of 100 percent acceptance for every graduating class since its first in 1984.
When asked by Fox News what his dream job would be, Coffey -- who holds a 4.3 GPA -- said he hopes to be a CEO of an investment or management consulting firm, overseeing fortune 500 companies. He's still unsure which university he'll ultimately choose to attend, but with such esteemed options, it's safe to say he can't make a bad decision.
Coffey said he doesn't see his background as a barrier to ultimately gaining a position of influence in the world, and he wants other young people to know it too.
“You can go anywhere you want to, pursue any career that you want to, and you shouldn’t let anybody hinder you from trying to reach your goals.”
We're officially adding Coffey to our list of amazing young people.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/31/avery-coffey-student-accepted-to-5-ivy-leagues_n_5063782.html
Monday, June 30, 2014
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
From Homeless To Harvard (And Beyond): Khadijah Williams Starts New Life In NYC (VIDEO)
In 2009, Oprah met Khadijah Williams, a driven young woman who grew up in homeless shelters but never stopped believing in herself and the power of education. Though she went to 12 different schools in 12 years, she managed to graduate high school with honors and was accepted into Harvard University. Four years later, she graduated with a degree in sociology and even got a shout-out from Oprah during her 2013 commencement speech.
Williams -- who says she was in the bathroom when a friend came running in to tell her Oprah was talking about her on stage -- now has quite an impressive reference. "Just to have someone like Miss Winfrey acknowledge you and say, 'You did a great thing,' … it's not only a great confidence booster, but it's also something I can send to employers like, "Look! Oprah talked about me, here's my recommendation!'" Williams says.
"Oprah: Where Are They Now?" recently caught up with Williams in New York City, where she landed a job and moved into her own apartment after graduation. "Right now I am a project manager at an education technology firm," she says. It's a very adult job, I have actual responsibilities – which is a little bit scary, but it's exciting."
"Just being able to have my own apartment and make adult decisions -- or try to, anyway -- is very empowering," Williams says. "And I absolutely want to give back. I will give back. And right now I'm just setting that foundation so I can do that."
"Oprah: Where Are They Now?" airs Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on OWN. Programming note: In 2014, "Oprah: Where Are They Now?" airs on a new day and time. Catch up with past "Oprah Show" guests, newsmakers and celebrities on Fridays at 9 p.m. ET, beginning Jan. 3.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/24/khadijah-williams-homeless-harvard_n_4493490.html
Williams -- who says she was in the bathroom when a friend came running in to tell her Oprah was talking about her on stage -- now has quite an impressive reference. "Just to have someone like Miss Winfrey acknowledge you and say, 'You did a great thing,' … it's not only a great confidence booster, but it's also something I can send to employers like, "Look! Oprah talked about me, here's my recommendation!'" Williams says.
"Oprah: Where Are They Now?" recently caught up with Williams in New York City, where she landed a job and moved into her own apartment after graduation. "Right now I am a project manager at an education technology firm," she says. It's a very adult job, I have actual responsibilities – which is a little bit scary, but it's exciting."
"Just being able to have my own apartment and make adult decisions -- or try to, anyway -- is very empowering," Williams says. "And I absolutely want to give back. I will give back. And right now I'm just setting that foundation so I can do that."
"Oprah: Where Are They Now?" airs Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on OWN. Programming note: In 2014, "Oprah: Where Are They Now?" airs on a new day and time. Catch up with past "Oprah Show" guests, newsmakers and celebrities on Fridays at 9 p.m. ET, beginning Jan. 3.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/24/khadijah-williams-homeless-harvard_n_4493490.html
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
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