A former high school student in Washington D.C. who has spent the last several years of her life homeless recently graduated as a valedictorian. Rashema Melson is also walking away from Anacostia High School with a full scholarship to Georgetown University.
18 year old Melson currently lives with her mother and two brothers at the D.C. General Homeless Shelther. Her father passed away when she was only 7 months old.
During the commencement ceremony, Melson and her speech shared the hardship she’s faced during her short life. She said, “Life is not fair. You must keep striving for success.” That’s a message she wanted to pass on as she relied on a positive outlook to achieve her successes.
In high school, Melson maintained a 4.1 grade point average. The curriculum included numerous college prep courses.
Melson says her only concern is what will happen to her family while she’s away at Georgetown.
Despite her worry, she’s advising other homeless kids and families to keep their heads up.
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