Over 100 New York City students have graduated high school and been accepted into college while living in homeless shelters.
One such student was Alexus Lawrence, her high school’s valedictorian, who will now be heading to Brooklyn College with a $2,000 scholarship to pursue her dream of becoming a pediatrician.
She added: "You have your head down because it's shameful in a way because some people may bully you if they ever knew that you lived in a shelter system."
Another student, Ronaldino Crosdale, who is heading to Baruch College, said: "I didn't believe in miracles until I got here."
Crosdale, who traveled to school from his homeless shelter every day, continued: "I didn't keep it a secret I just didn't really make it a part of me, you know?"
According to a report from, the Department of Homeless Services gifted each college-bound student with a laptop and assortment of gear for college.
"They're homeless because of the economics, the gap between rents and income," NYC Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks said.
It's estimated that more than 15,000 school-aged children sleep in a New York City homeless shelter on any given night.
