A homeless student beat the odds by winning a full scholarship to college despite living in a shelter and working two grueling jobs six days a week.
Makoa Perez, who just graduated from Kelso High School in Washington, managed to earn excellent grades thanks to his strong work ethic and time management.
Despite lacking a traditional home, Perez finished school with a 3.97 GPA and a large number of college credits.
In his senior year of high school, the young man’s hard work was rewarded with a full scholarship to Washington State University.
He had even volunteered his little free time to help with community service efforts and was elected class president.
Makoa Perez, who just graduated from Kelso High School in Washington, managed to earn excellent grades thanks to his strong work ethic and time management. Despite lacking a traditional home, Perez finished school with a 3.97 GPA and a large number of college credits.
In his senior year of high school, the hard-working young man earned a full scholarship to Washington State University. The homeless student even volunteered his limited free time to help with community service efforts and was elected class president.
During high school, Perez worked two jobs six days a week. His work schedule was extremely hectic, which meant he had to find time to study.
“We work every day except Friday, and then we work all week until Saturday,” Perez said.
As a full-time student, the student worker had to take shifts whenever possible. This often meant working early in the morning and late at night.
“I opened and closed both of my jobs,” he said. KATU2.
Pérez didn’t just go to work and do indifferent work. Just like in school, he excelled in the workplace.
In one of his jobs, he ended up as a supervisor and supervised the work of those who were younger than him.
“Managing a full shift with a whole team, some older, some younger with different schedules to attend to and different breaks to accommodate, was definitely difficult.”
McKinney Vento supervisor Nancy Baldwin attributed the district’s 100 percent graduation rate to the students’ optimistic outlook.
Using his phone to keep a detailed schedule, Perez was able to keep track of his endless commitments and deadlines.
In addition to the general, normal concerns that many high school students deal with, the class president also had to answer more immediate questions, such as where was I going to sleep?
“Really, it’s been mostly about not only graduating high school and figuring out what I want to do after my high school career, but also housing and staying stable.”
Perez was able to seek help from the McKinney Vento homeless shelter program, which was signed into law by Ronald Reagan in 1987. He was placed in a shelter, where he lived with several roommates.
The program helps meet homeless students’ basic needs, such as housing and food.
In Washington, only 63.2 percent of McKinney Vento students graduated from high school, a grim testament to the challenges these young people face.
However, when Pérez walked across the stage to receive his diploma, he was joined by fourteen other students in the program. The district had a 100 percent graduation rate.
Nancy Baldwin, the district’s McKinney Vento supervisor, attributed the success to the students’ optimistic attitude.
‘We support our students every step of the way…Graduation is what we expect them to do. It’s your right.’
Baldwin’s career is focused on helping these students. For her, the most difficult part of the job is finding housing for the young people.
‘I could work on it five days, eight hours a day. Housing is difficult.’
Perez was one of fifteen McKinney Vento students who graduated from his high school. The district had a 100 percent graduation rate.
Baldwin also runs the Family Resource Center, which provides homeless students with hot meals and food they can take with them.
She serves as a surrogate mother for many of the youth who find themselves without parents or guardians.
When McKinney Vento students received their diplomas, Baldwin was in the audience cheering them on.
“At graduation, I know I was the only mother there for 10 or 11 of my kids,” she said.
“In my head, I’m thinking, God, if a mother could please walk through the door.”
As if working two jobs wasn’t enough, Perez volunteered at the Family Resource Center, helping Baldwin. She treasured her time there.
“When I walk in, this place lights up with warmth,” he said, before adding, “They show kindness to everyone who walks through those doors.”
Now that he’s finished high school, Perez hopes to have a relatively more relaxing college experience.
“I don’t have to work during my first year of university, which makes me incredibly happy.”