Doesn't it just inspire you?

     I came across this story while browsing Facebook of all places, and I just dropped what I was doing and came on here.  If I were to do an interview for this blog so far, I would do it on Harold Ekeh, an amazingly driven 17 year old who has grades that were so competitive that it got him into all eight Ivy League universities, plus MIT and John Hopkins University.  =-O.  I've had high dreams and aspirations before, but wow, how do you do that?!  He's also an immigrant from Nigeria.  To transition cultures, potentially learn a new language, and fully grasp the American dream at such a young age is such an incredible achievement.  My hat is off to him completely.  I'd love to see good things come to him.  I'd love to see more American children have that ambition as well, instead of taking the easy road.

     Check out the stats on this kid, GPA of 100.5 and SAT scores of 2270 out of 2400.  The article published about him also states that he was a semi-finalist in the national Intel Science Talent Search.  He was one of only 300 students nationwide who got selected for it.  The top winners for that event receives a $150,000 scholarship for their achievements.  He had  a 1 in 300 chance of getting that kind of money at 17.  In the interview he stated that he is interested in attending Yale University.  His extra-curricular achievements go on and on as well.  He plays the drums, leads a church choir, and is involved in a mentor program to get other promising students into America's best schools. 

     To his credit, as well, he is described as being warm and humble.  His quote at the end of the article makes me glow, "I don't see it as an accomplishment for me.  I see it as an accomplishment for my community.  I hope it inspires the younger generation, not just in Elmont, but overall.".  I will absolutely use this article in my Speech class tomorrow.  It might be a little late for my high school children to get into Yale, but they can do their best at whichever university or trade school that they decide to go to.  They can achieve their own best.  

     This blog has to be short because I have an appointment in an hour, but if you would like to see more information about this exceptional young man that I am so thrilled for, please visit
 http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/04/07/accepted-all-ivy-schools/25402601/