Despite the obstacles of being homeless for several years, Martin Folsom, an 18-year-old Florida high school graduate, is graduating as valedictorian of his class. “It’s been a bumpy ride with a lot of setbacks.” But seeing myself about to graduate, about to go to college — it feels nice to know that everything I’ve done has been worthwhile,” Folsom said in a film promoting Duval County Public Schools’ 2020 graduates.
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Folsom, who is graduating from Jacksonville’s A. Philip Randolph, Career Academies, says he wants a better future for himself and his family, which is what motivated him to finish as valedictorian. Folsom was the class president from his freshman to senior year, in addition to excelling academically. When his classmates require assistance, they turn to him for guidance.
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Martin and I were stuck in a downtown McDonald’s with nowhere to go,” she told WJXT. “I began phoning people and organisations, and by the grace of God, we were able to get into a shelter that day.” Folsom said that despite his precarious housing situation, he didn’t allow it to hinder his studies.
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“I never thought to myself, ‘I can’t do this longer’ or ‘I’m done with this,’” the adolescent, who was class president from freshman to senior year, explained. “It’s always been, ‘Well, it happened again, and I’ve got to get myself up and keep pushing on,’” says the author.
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Folsom is grateful to his mother for being there for him during his time in shelters. He claimed that he would not have risen to the top of his class without the assistance of his mother and others. Graduations for the class of 2020 have been cancelled due to the current coronavirus outbreak.
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Folsom, on the other hand, didn’t let it dampen his spirits. During an interview with CBS 47, he said, “Take advantage of each opportunity you can because you never know where it will take you.” Folsom also intends to study accounting and finance at Valdosta State University in Georgia. He appears to be the first in his family to attend college.