How Homeless Black Girl Became High School Valedictorian and First Graduate in Her Family

• Rashema Melson was born and raised in southeast Washington, DC, and lived a majority of her life in either a homeless shelter or public housing
• Despite her struggle with homelessness, she emerged as the valedictorian at Anacostia High School in the US
• She made history in her family as the first person to graduate from the university after overcoming the difficult circumstances

Rashema Melson made history when she emerged as the best student of Anacostia High School in Washington, DC, United States, after overcoming tribulations.

Born and raised in southeast Washington, DC, Melson has lived a majority of her life in either a homeless shelter, public housing, or even an abandoned house at one point.

Overcoming the challenges

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Melson, however, emerged as the valedictorian of her class at Anacostia High School with an outstanding 4.0 GPA and earned a full scholarship to college.

Speaking about the difficulties she encountered, Melson said noise and protracted security checks at the shelter compelled her to wake up in the middle of the night to do her homework in peace while in high school.

How she did it

''My life has always been rough,'' Melson said, according to ABC News. ''[But] reading books gave me an insight into a world that I have never ever seen in my life,'' she said.

Melson later graduated with a bachelor's degree in Justice and Peace studies from Georgetown University in Washington DC, becoming the first in her family to earn a college degree.

Meet the Twin Brothers who Graduated with First-Class Degrees

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Still on education, YEN.com.gh previously reported that the 2022 graduating class of the University of Ghana School of Law had seven students achieve first-class degrees in law, including identical twin siblings.

Peter Korsi Simpson and his brother Paul Korsi Simpson were among seven prodigies who excelled with first-class during Saturday's congregation at the University of Ghana School of Law. Besides having the same look, the pair has more than one thing in common but different aspirations.

Peter and Paul attended Bishop Herman College before heading to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to obtain Bachelor of Science degrees in Land Economy.

Source: YEN.com.gh