Scholarship and Perseverance: “Studying for a College Degree in a Homeless Shelter”

Neither wanted a picture in the paper. Few of their friends know they are homeless, and not all of their professors know. But they agreed to tell their stories… (read full story)


Petula Dvorak, a Metro columnist for The Washington Post, profiles two students who are striving for their college degrees while homeless. Both come from broken homes and lost jobs because of the tough economic times. But both consider a college education a way out of their situation. Meanwhile, though, they struggle to study amid the bedlam and petty theft of a homeless shelter, and worry about issues unknown to most college students, such as scheduling classes.

This is a story of inspiration at its finest. These two students should be commended as they continue to push on even after one gets his lap-top stolen right before midterms by someone at the shelter or and the other finding out that she’s pregnant. I pray and hope they see it through to the end. I think it’s great that these two students recognize their own potential, something that so many young people fail to do.