Beating The Odds. ALL OF THE ODDS.

Fast forward to two days ago when Better Make Room and the Office of the First Lady hosted the Beating The Odds summit. Tyler Oakley joined FLOTUS to hear the stories of more than 130 urban, rural, foster, homeless, special needs and underrepresented youth who have overcome incredible obstacles during high school and were able to persevere and make it to a post-secondary institution. 

During the event, Tyler moderated a panel, consisting of the First Lady, U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King, Jr., musical artist Jidenna AND a current college student named Rachel, and they discussed how real the struggle is for college students around the country.

One of our favorite parts? Three of Houston’s own college-bound students were selected to attend. We had the chance to sit down with two of them, Thomas and Victor (from Houston-based CollegeCommunityCareer), to hear their stories, their struggles and—most importantly—their triumphs.

What made them different than the rest? What sort of drive lived innately within them, nudging them to stay awake late at night to study for the SAT or to go to a tutoring session instead of a friends house after class? They take us to school on how they made it happen.

Thomas
Thomas grew up in an apartment on the southside of Houston. His mom and dad, both immigrants, worked multiple jobs to provide for their children. But their apartment  was in a tough part of town where gangs ran rampant and most people in the apartment complex lived in fear of being robbed. 

When they moved, Thomas was in fifth grade and trying to make friends in a new school is a hard enough as it is, but then he got looped in with a bad crowd. This crowd made him feel like he was a part of something— a part of a community he so desperately wanted. But football changed all that. Sports offered him a positive outlook on life and connected him to friends who cared about what he could be rather than what he could offer them. He joined as many organizations as he could. He wanted to stay after school and didn’t want to be just a 7:30-2:00 student.

And then Thomas joined College Community Career and met Ms. Kathy. He said it was the best decision he ever made. Ms. Kathy was able to give him the support he needed, overcoming countless problems. When he looks back, he wonders, “What if I still hung around the bad crowd?” He knows he wouldn’t have had that level of support.

“Keep looking forward to life. Keep aiming high. Do things to better yourself. Focus on the right things. Help yourself. Always try to better yourself in any kind of way.”- Thomas (on what he would tell students going through what he went through).

Back then, Thomas would say that he was afraid of the world, so focused on trying to fit in. Now, entering his senior year of high school, he’s a completely different person. He broke the boundary between being afraid and being accomplished. Clapping hands emoji, Thomas.

Looking toward the future, Thomas is planning on getting a mechanical engineering degree. Plus, he got to hangout with the First Lady last week. Not too shabby, if you ask us.

Victor
For a long time, Victor was swallowed by the negativity in the world.

He grew up in Houston and, even as an upperclassmen, he had no idea about what college could do for him. To most people he spent time with, a high school diploma was too far-fetched. There was no way he’d get that far or achieve that much. No one ever told him to study or to do his homework—his lifestyle was determined by what people didn’t say: No one said anything about the kids dropping out of high school in the ninth grade. No one said anything about skipping school. No one said anything about the drugs.

So, he was molded by that—the negative lifestyle scratching its way out of a system that was set up for failure. But his mother, recognizing his potential, supported him, called him out and didn’t let him settle for something less than what he should be. She showed him that yes, it was really hard to work two jobs but that was the difference between him and everyone else. He had the potential to be the go-getter, the winner and the champion of his own story. When he was young, he was influenced by the people around him who didn’t have any inclination for an educational future.

Once he took control of his own future, his attitude changed. He became motivated. He became “the man,” influencing other people to make something of themselves. The first time he traveled to see a college campus, he was sold. Texas A&M Kingsville would be home. From the neighborhood he was used to, it seemed like a utopia. College was a one-way ticket out of there and he refused to be a part of his past for any longer.

“If I can do it, anyone else can do it. Invest in yourself and it’s not going to happen overnight. Find out what you’re here for. What makes you happy. And from there you can find out where you fit in life.” – Victor (on what he would tell students going through what he went through).

For a long time, he was swallowed by all of the negativity. But if he hadn’t experienced the negativity, he wouldn’t be able to appreciate the beautiful ending.

The world Better Make Room for students like these—the young men and women who’ve realized that their future is something that isn’t ethereal or out of their reach. No, their future is sitting right in front of them waiting for instruction. It’s time that they stood up and told the world where they’re headed. We were so incredibly honored to have had the chance to sit down with Thomas and Victor. We’re confident that the story they’re telling is far from over. 

But there are others! Students across the country who are waking up to the idea of higher education. If you are a student who’s thinking about college, don’t hesitate. Dive in face first, dream in huge experimental ways and be unapologetic about what you want to create, accomplish and explore. In fact, tell the world your dreams. There’s nothing like seven billion people holding you accountable.

Here’s some inspiration to tell YOUR story.