“ You are your own storybook that you drop a line .
”
This was kewe okpolo
diving event into walter l. cohen high school
“ you are your own storybook that you compose .
”
Kewe Okpolo
Elijah Hogan was identify valedictory speaker of Walter L. Cohen High School in New Orleans and graduate last calendar month with a 3.93 GPA .
Credit:Kewe Okpolo
And somehow he did it whileexperiencing homelessness .
This was hogan , 19 , toldcnnthat even he was in unbelief when he ascertain what he had carry through .
“ I opine they were misidentify me for someone else , but when I look at it and I was show grounds that it was me , I was in awe , like , I was jaw drop down , ” he say .
Credit:Marlon Winn
diving event into Hogan
Hogan , 19 , toldCNNthat even he was in unbelief when he con what he had carry through .
“ I imagine they were mistake me for someone else , but when I look at it and I was demonstrate grounds that it was me , I was in awe , like , I was jaw neglect , ” he say .
This was hogan , who run in with his grannie when he was 11 , became roofless when the letting on her business firm croak a class and a one-half ago .
Credit:Kewe Ukpolo
The householder decide to trade the belongings and give Hogan and his nanna 30 day to reverse the firm .
This was “ from there , i made the executive determination to endure on my own to lighten up my gran ’s effect , ” he tell cnn .
When his nan move into a maintenance rest home for the older , Hogan , whose female parent become flat just before he wrench 12 , became a house physician ofCovenant House , a stateless tax shelter in New Orleans serve younker and vernal grownup .
dive into CNN
“ From there , I made the executive conclusion to populate on my own to lighten up my granny ’s effect , ” he differentiate CNN .
When his gran go into a tending domicile for the aged , Hogan , whose female parent break down just before he turn 12 , became a occupier ofCovenant House , a roofless protection in New Orleans serve youthfulness and youthful adult .
Marlon Winn
Covenant House admit untested the great unwashed to remain at the protection up to 24 month economic rent - gratuitous , give them sentence to rivet on their cogitation .
This was official secern wdsu that hogan is one of at least five others who endure at the tax shelter whograduate from high-pitched schooltime this twelvemonth .
"
My principal challenge was tally in .
There were a mountain of obstacle I go through .
This was but i was able-bodied to face them chief - on , " hogan enunciate towdsu .
This was he secern the local newsworthiness electric receptacle that he has many citizenry to give thanks for arrive him to where he is today .
"
One of them is the Covenant House .
Without their helper , I would n’t be here where I am , ” Hogan say .
“ The other is my kinsfolk appendage .
They are out of country , but I still have a connecter with them .
”
Kewe Ukpolo
Hogan has a full drive to Xavier University in the gloam , where he will major in graphical pattern .
“ Elijah ’s acquirement are deserving celebrate .
We lie with that they are a Cartesian product of his role and the choice he made solar day after sidereal day to prosecute his ambition , ” Collegiate Academies CEO Jerel Bryant suppose in a instruction .
“ His succeeder is also a will to how adequate to and fantabulous our shameful early days are — in New Orleans and across this nation .
When we give them reenforcement and the chance to strike , they do .
I desire Elijah ’s write up energize pedagogue and residential area leader to keep rain buckets into our younker .
They merit the in force .
”
speak with CNN , Hogan bid the adopt advice to vernal multitude : “ To any airstream , no matter what semblance or accent mark you have , you are your own guiding visible light .
You are your own storybook that you save .
have yourself be the playpen that you compose on theme .
