For five years, Columbus City Schools student Lashawn Samuel walked three miles round trip from his home to the Franklinton Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library to get help with his homework, and all that hard work has paid off. Samuel says this spring he was accepted to 12 colleges and universities, and several of them offered a full scholarship, including his number one choice the Ohio State University.
Now, he will be the first person in his family to go to college. He achieved his goals despite many challenges to his health, his personal safety, and his financial security. Samuel says his story is a testament of what can happen when you work hard and persevere, and lean on your community to get help when you need it.
Part of what has helped him are the words of world famous tennis professional Arthur Ashe. Ashe said about taking on challenges, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” That is exactly what Samuel did when faced with the challenge of getting into college. Coming from poverty, Samuel had fewer opportunities than most but he made the most of those he did have.
Starting in eighth grade, Samuel would regularly walk from his home to the Franklinton Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, sign into the Homework Help Center around 3 pm, work until the center closed and walk back home. The entire trip was three miles. Sometimes, he would be walking home in the dark to his section eight housing.
During the course of those five years, Samuel got sick and had to be in hospital, struggled with having enough food to eat, and lost his friend in violence. He could have given up at any point but he didn’t. He just kept pushing.
“The kid has great perseverance and he just keeps going,” said Kelly Young, one of the Homework Help associates at the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
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