Homeless To Harvard: Philly Teen Admitted To Ivy League School

PHILADELPHIA – It's a storybook tale come true for Richard Jenkins. The 18-year-old Girard College student has overcome bullying and homelessness to attend one of the world's most prestigious universities in the fall.

Jenkins, who was recently named the Girard College Class of 2018 Valedictorian while living in a North Philadelphia homeless shelter for years, earned himself a full ride to Harvard University.

Despite being called names such as "bookworm" and "Harvard" (the joke's on them now) by some of his peers and struggling with his living situation, Jenkins persisted with the idea of raising himself, his family, and his future family up out of the conditions he experienced.

"Around 6th grade, I was homeless and living in a shelter in Germantown called the Wayne House, actually," Jenkins told Fox29. "Basically, I got tired of being poor, tired of feeling like I had to hide that."

After getting a promotional email from Harvard advertising its program that pays tuition for students from households that earn less than $65,000 a year, Jenkins decided to apply.

Even with a passion for learning and a drive to lift his family from their tough situation, Jenkins didn't think he'd actually get into the Ivy League school.

"There’s a lot of places I didn’t think possible — including Harvard," Jenkins told Philly.com's Helen Ubiñas. "I don’t know, I guess I just thought: I’m black. And I’m not that smart.’"

But then while on a trip to Paris with his school, Jenkins learned his hard work paid off.

He and his classmates huddled around a computer, checking the university's admission status. When they saw he got in, the room erupted with cheers, hugs, tears, and chants.

"He has a full scholarship to college and a stipend for room and board," Jenkins' God Father Donald Kinsey Jr. said in a GoFundMe campaign launched to help offset additional costs Jenkins will incur at Harvard. "He plans on working to pay for his daily expenses and entertainment, and I think that's a valid life experience for a young man going to college so I don't want to take that from him by making him too rich."

The campaign has raised more than $4,500 of its $25,000 goal. Funds generated by the campaign will be used to buy clothes, help pay for a car, and pay for books and other school supplies.

See here to contribute to the campaign.

Jenkins shared with Ubiñas his tough past, moving from North Philly with his mom and brother to Northern California, Tennessee, and Florida, living in hotel rooms and shelters along the way.

And in September he will make what will likely be the most important move in his life as he heads to Cambridge, Massachusetts and start classes at Harvard.

How do you like them apples, bullies?

Image via GoFundMe