Homeless to harvard (Part 2)

Think a minute…Yesterday we began the amazing story of a teenage girl named Dawn Loggins. Her childhood was filled with poverty, shame, and pain from being homeless and abandoned by her drug addict parents. 

While in high school she had to work part-time as her school janitor to support herself and her brother, besides studying long hours into the night. Then in 2012, Dawn Loggins graduated as a top student of her high school and was accepted into Harvard University, one of the world’s leading universities.

While Dawn received a little help from friends and teachers, her boss said: “All we did was just give her the basics she needed, but she’s done this with her own brain and determination, and nobody can take credit for that except Dawn!” 

After Dawn’s story became news, people from around the world sent her kind messages and gifts of money. But Dawn does not want the money! She said, “When I get to college, I can work for what I need.” Instead, she wants to use all the money she has been given to start a nonprofit organization to help other teens who have had disadvantages in their life like she did.

The other challenging choice Dawn faced was how she would respond to her drug addict parents who left her homeless and alone. They totally failed to love her and give her the childhood she needed. Yet instead of using her parents’ abuse and bad example as an excuse, she used it to motivate herself to live a completely changed and better life. 

Amazingly, this teenage girl chose to love and forgive her parents who destroyed her childhood. She says, “I’m not mad at my parents…I just realize that they have their own problems they need to work through. I love my parents. I disagree with the choices they’ve made. But we all have to live with the consequences of our actions…If I hadn’t had those experiences, I wouldn’t be such a strong-willed or determined person.”

This teenage girl can inspire you today to make the right, brave choice to change and overcome your past pain and disadvantages, including forgiving those who hurt and wronged you. With Jesus leading your life each day, and filling your heart with His love and power, you too can become the person He created you to be. Just think a minute… 

Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>