Have you ever been determined to do something but were faced with a seemingly impossible obstacle?
How did you handle it?
Did you give up, or did you persevere and overcome?
One young Missouri man, 14-year-old Xavier Jones, decided to push through what was standing in the way of something important to him.
Xavier was a student at Yeatman-Liddell Middle School and was excited about his upcoming graduation.
He was a straight-A student with a 4.0 GPA and tons of awards coming his way.
He wanted so badly to be at his graduation ceremony with all his friends, that he did something very few people would decide to do.
Xavier’s grandfather, whom he lived with, had his car break down a few days before the ceremony was to take place, so Xavier decided to walk.
It may not seem like a big deal, a kid walking, but when you learn that it was a 6.5 mile, 2.5-hour trek, that may change your opinion.
The ceremony was set to take place at Harris Stowe State University which was much farther away than his middle school.
That didn’t stop Xavier though, he looked up the route on Google Maps and decided it was doable so he put on his holey shoes and set out.
With his brother and another friend at his side, Xavier started on his journey, stopping only to get a drink of water before continuing on his way.
The trio walked the entire way to the school in time for Xavier to walk across the stage and accept his diploma.
He had also won multiple academic awards and his progression across the stage was met with thunderous cheers from all his classmates and teachers.
The boy beamed as she shook hands with his principal and gripped his diploma.
Shortly before the end of the ceremony, word had gotten back to the Dean of Harris Stowe about what Xavier had done to be there.
Dr. Latonia Collins-Smith was shocked and amazed by the young boy’s determination and decided to present him with something a little extra.
Dr. Collins-Smith called Xavier to the stage and presented the young man with a full-ride scholarship to the school.
Though he still has to make it through the next 4 years of high school, Xavier already has a place at the University waiting for him.
When he is finally ready to attend, all his tuition, books, and other fees will be paid for.
“I learned a lot from Xavier…” the Dean said, “…even on your worst day, keep pressing forward.”
Though the young man doesn’t think that what he did was all that great, many others see it.
He could have easily decided to stay home that day or to give up partway through the journey, but he didn’t.
When asked why he did what he did, Xavier simply said, “I wanted to walk across that stage.”
See the determined Xavier cross the stage and receive his diploma in the video linked below.
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