Chelesa Fearce, a senior at Charles Drew High School in Clayton County, Georgia, is graduating as her school’s valedictorian, despite being homeless and living out of her mother’s car for most of her high school career.
“I just told myself to keep working, because the future will not be like this anymore,†Fearce told WSBTV Atlanta. “You’re worried about your home life and then worried at school. Worry about being a little hungry sometimes, go hungry sometimes. You just have to deal with it. You eat what you can, when you can.â€
Her obstacles did not deter her from achieving a high GPA and extremely high SAT score. On top of her regular high school course load, Chelsea enrolled in college courses during her last two years of high school, so when she enters Spelman in the fall, she will be a college junior.
“Don’t give up. Do what you have to do right now so that you can have the future that you want,†Chelesa said.