Meet Rehan Staton, who went from collecting garbage to graduating from Harvard Law School. His journey shows how hard work and determination can lead to incredible success.
Rehan grew up with his brother and single father, who worked hard to support them. Their life was tough, with little food and sometimes no electricity. Their house was in bad shape, with holes in the ceilings and mold in the basement.
As a kid, Rehan dreamed of becoming a boxer or excelling in taekwondo to help his family out of poverty. But a shoulder injury dashed those dreams. After high school, he had to find a job to support his father, who had suffered a stroke. So, he and his brother had to delay their education.
Luckily, Rehan found work as a garbage collector in Maryland. Even though it wasn’t the job he wanted, it helped him support his family. Working with dumpsters gave him insights into his future goals. Some of his coworkers, who had been in jail before, encouraged him to pursue higher education instead of following their path.
Inspired by his supportive coworkers, Rehan enrolled at Bowie State University before transferring to the University of Maryland. He worked hard and finished his undergraduate studies in 2018. Then, he did well on the LSAT, a test for law school, and decided to apply to Harvard Law School.
Getting into Harvard was tough, but Rehan gave it his all. To his surprise, he got accepted, and his acceptance video went viral. Famous actor Tyler Perry offered to pay for Rehan’s education, and people raised over $200,000 through GoFundMe to support him.
Rehan knows the importance of hard work, but he’s also thankful for the support he’s received. From his coworkers to his boss, who let him take time off for school, and his cousin, who helped him study for the LSAT, Rehan’s journey was fueled by the belief others had in him. He even started a group called The Reciprocity Effect to give back and bring people together at Harvard.
Even though Rehan achieved his dream of graduating from Harvard Law School, he hasn’t forgotten his childhood dreams. He wants to combine his legal skills with his love for sports and maybe lead a professional sports team one day. Rehan says he’ll always stay true to himself and his roots, despite having a fancy law degree.
Rehan Staton’s story shows us that with hard work, determination, and support, we can overcome any obstacle and achieve our dreams. Let his story inspire you to never give up on your goals, no matter where you come from.
