Excerpt
JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour): The U.S. Department of Education recently released data that showed there were more than 1.2 million homeless students enrolled in public schools last year, the highest ever.
As the nation’s educators continue to struggle with the problem, the “NewsHour's" April Brown tells the story of one Washington, D.C., teenager who defied the odds and may well inspire other kids in similar situations.
This story is another in our American Graduate series funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
APRIL BROWN (NewsHour): In many ways, Rashema Melson is a typical Georgetown University freshman. She graduated top of her high school class last year and now makes it a point to come early every day, so she can sit in the front row.
But Rashema’s path toward success has not been an easy one. Her father was killed when she was 7 months old, and she spent much of the last three years in a Washington, D.C., homeless shelter with her mother and two brothers, facts that she kept mostly secret while in high school.
RASHEMA MELSON, Georgetown University: It was nobody’s business. And if it was, I didn’t want to be pitied, I didn’t want to be looked down upon as if I couldn’t do it, because I’m a strong person.
CHISA PERRY, Anacostia High School: She was always smiling, very bubbly, very friendly, always the good morning or the hello.
APRIL BROWN: One person she eventually told was Anacostia High School teacher Chisa Perry, who was Rashema’s track and field coach. But for a long time, Perry didn’t know. And she says, regardless of what was happening at home, Rashema always remained upbeat and focused at school.
CHISA PERRY: The best way to describe Rashema would be determined. Anything she sets her mind to do, she will do it.
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