HOUSTON -- Nearly 8,000 seniors will graduate from HISD schools this year, and many of them are going on to college. In fact, they’ve accepted $52 million and counting in scholarships! But as exceptional as all of the graduates are, some of those seniors have had to overcome enormous obstacles to make it to graduation day, so the district decided to share their stories.

Check out these inspirational stories from HISD’s Class of 2010, and if you know a graduate who deserves recognition, upload their photo and tell their story by clicking the related link to the right!

Furr senior goes from being homeless to class valedictorian

Victor Cardenas spent several nights sleeping on a bench at a Denver Harbor park with no food, no blanket and no one to turn to. Victor says he left home due to family problems, but decided to stay in school.

"It was very hard, I was sleeping in the streets and I was really scared," said the 17-year old. "But I found shelter at school, I ate there and my friends would really cheer me up, so I would be at school as much as possible."

Victor would even stay after school every day and joined several after-school programs, including film class. For several years, Victor lived temporarily with friends and would move from home to home. Earlier this school year, he got help from his film teacher’s family.

"I walked into the classroom and he was crying. He told me his story and said he had nowhere to go," said Furr High School film teacher Assol Kavtorina. "I called my husband and asked him if I could bring him home."

Ever since, Victor has been living with the Russian family and he is even learning the language. This year, Victor created a documentary about his life and received a $10,000 college scholarship.

"It was a big release for me to finally tell my story and the documentary really helped me express what I was going through," he said. "I wanted to show people there is still hope out there."

Despite all the adversities he has faced, Victor has managed to get good grades throughout high school and will be graduating as the Valedictorian of his class. (valedictorian n. The student with the highest academic rank in a class.) 

"I am still in disbelief. I’ve worked so hard and felt many times like giving up. I asked myself if it was worth it," he said. "I know now that it was worth it and it’s a real privilege for me to graduate top of my class. It’s really an honor."

Victor has been accepted to Texas A&M where he plans to pursue a career in microbiology or engineering with a focus in math and science. His ultimate goal is to become a doctor and to help heal the wounds of others.

Lee senior overcomes loss of both parents to succeed

Ermias Emahazion lost both of his parents in a car accident in Ethiopia. He found refuge in Kenya for a few years, but he struggled learning the language and adapting to the culture. Ermias soon realized that he wanted a better life away from the slums where he was living and decided to come to the United States - alone.

"I pleaded for asylum with an immigration judge," he said. "I shared my story and promised I would work hard and succeed in school, that would be my purpose."

Ermias was able to stay and currently lives with a pastor of a local church that supports him. He volunteers his spare time helping other at his church.

At Lee High School, Ermias has conquered every challenge and moved "up the ladder." He began taking English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) classes, then transitioned to regular English class, and is currently taking Advance Placement courses.

"Each year, Ermias and his teachers have petitioned to move him into more advanced classes. Most times, when a talented student does this, his or her grades drop as they try to adjust," said Lee College Access Coordinator David Johnston. "But, amazingly, Ermias’ grades did not drop. They only got better and better. This speaks highly of his discipline, study skills, previous academic preparation, raw intelligence, and passion to learn."

Ermias has been accepted to Texas A&M, the University of Texas, and Syracuse University. He is planning to attend Syracuse and major in engineering.

Milby senior sets a high example for younger siblings

Lorenzo Gonzales was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico and was raised by his parents until he was nine years old. His mom abandoned him and his three younger siblings so his dad came to America to better support them economically. As the oldest one of the family, Lorenzo raised his two brothers and younger sister by himself in Mexico. He took care of them, cooked and cleaned the house, and also helped with their homework.

"No matter how hard things got, going to school was always the focus," he said.

Eight years later, Lorenzo’s father was able to process all the legal paperwork to bring them to America. Lorenzo enrolled in the 11th grade at Milby High School and did not know English.
 

"Everything was new and different to me," he says. "I had to learn a new language and adapt to a new way of life in order to survive."

Lorenzo asked for help and Milby’s literacy coach Mary Smith became his mentor.

"I stayed after school every day to teach Lorenzo English," she said. "His goal was to learn English as fast as he could so he could pass the TAKS tests, graduate from high school and attend college. But more importantly, he wanted to be a role model for his younger siblings and help his dad for all the years his dad had helped him."

Lorenzo achieved his goal. He also earned a "commended" score on the mathematics section of the TAKS test.

"This is just the beginning, after I graduate from high school, I want to go to college and study kinesiology," he said. "I want to be a role model for my brothers and sister, but also for other Hispanics. I want to show them that they too, can learn a new language, overcome difficulties and be whatever they want because here we can live the American dream."

Sam Houston student loses brother in boxing match, continues to succeed in school and in the ring

Miguel Flores wanted to be just like his older brother Benjamin, a boxing champion. They trained and boxed together and Benjamin became Miguel’s role model. But on May 5, 2009 Benjamin "El Michoacano" Flores died in the ring from injuries sustained in a professional boxing match. That day, Miguel’s world collapsed and he lost interest in everything, including school.

"When I lost my brother, school seemed worthless to me and graduating wasn’t part of my plans anymore," he said. "It was the hardest obstacle in my life. But thanks to the support of my family and friends I got back on track."

Miguel, a senior at HISD’s Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center, continued to go to school and worked extra hard to make up for the time he missed. This year, he will graduate and plans to go on to college.

"My counselor and teachers really helped me get back to where I was. At times I was not able to fully focus," he said. "But with all the help I’ve received, I will get a diploma this year and I’m slowly achieving what my brother would have wanted me to do."

Miguel continues boxing and hopes one day to become a professional boxer in honor of his older brother.

"Life is full of obstacles and challenges and the only thing there is to do is fight, no matter how painful it can be at times."

DeBakey student earns full scholarship to Harvard

Gustavo Resendez will be the first in his family to attend college and he has plenty of choices – all Ivy League.

"I got accepted to Harvard University, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT, UT and Rice University," said Gustavo enthusiastically.

That’s because Gustavo, who is the president of his senior class, is graduating with honors and ranked 4th in his senior class at Debakey High School. Gustavo decided to take advantage of the opportunities his parents did not have.

"My parents never went to college," he said. "My mom doesn’t speak English and my dad was able to learn it after many years of practice."

Gustavo received a near perfect score on his first try on the SAT exam. Gustavo plans to study science, and has already made a choice where.

"I’m going to Harvard," he said. "My family and I are very excited. I’ll be getting a great education."

Yates senior receives West Point appointment

A few years ago, Yates High School freshman Ferunell Smith looked Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee in the eyes and told her that one day she would be nominating him for a military appointment. Fast forward and the 17 year old senior has not only been nominated by Congresswoman Lee but has been accepted into the prestigious West Point Military Academy.

"It’s a major accomplishment when you consider the adversity he’s faced," said Major Edward Johnson who is Smith’s JROTC instructor at Yates.  "I have personally witnessed this young man go through the stress of losing his father and having his mother battle throat cancer. He also has had to move on at least five occasions over the past three years.  But throughout it all he has maintained a positive outlook and academic excellence in his grades."

Smith currently has a grade point average of 3.8 and is ranked 5th in his graduating class. Despite his academic success, it was only recently that he thought about college.

"I knew I wanted to go into the military but it was my best friend’s father, a former marine, who convinced me that college was just as important," he says. Smith has been living with his best friend’s family since Hurricane Ike. He credits them, along with his mother and his teachers at Yates for his success. "It was a total team effort," he said "I didn’t do this all by myself, a lot of people helped and mentored me along the way." 

Smith also thanks Congresswoman Lee and her staff for keeping him on track and even helping with SAT preparation.

"I have never seen such a commitment to do well and succeed in the midst of such adversity," says Lee. "This young man is an asset to the community and will soon be an asset to the entire nation. He is living proof that every child can achieve higher goals when given the right tools to build their life."

Ironically, Smith never even thought about a career in the military until he began studying WWII as a high school freshman. "I became fascinated with General Patton and Eisenhower and started reading everything I could about them," he said. It was a West Point sticker on his JROTC instructor’s classroom door that first sparked his interest in the academy.

Last July, he attended the West Point Summer Institute and says he was instantly hooked.

"I learned in Junior Achievement that everyone should have a noble purpose in life. I think mine is to lead a troop of soldiers," he said.  Smith’s mentors, however, think he is destined for much more. "He has all the qualities of a great general," said Major Johnson. "He has the drive, determination and intelligence to go far in life."

Smith will start at the West Point Preparatory School this July. The eight month program will refine and train the cadet for the Academy which he will begin in 2011. "I am so excited and my mother is so proud," he said. "I think my father, if he was alive, would be proud too. I am the first one in my family to go to college."

Bellaire Senior who arrived speaking only Vietnamese learns English quickly and succeeds in academics

When Thanh Dang enrolled at Bellaire High School in November of 2008, he had just moved to the United States from Vietnam and spoke no English.  Since then he has become fluent in English, passed all parts of the exit level TAKS in English, excelled in Advanced Placement courses, has been accepted to 14 different colleges, and has received several scholarships.  He plans to attend UTSA and major in Electrical Engineering

Here is part of the 18-year-old senior’s story in his own words from an essay he wrote.

"I have always remembered the words of one of the astronauts to ‘reach for the stars’. To me those stars can be found in the educational field. I belong to a family where education has been of utmost importance. Even as a child, I was guided by my elders to focus on school work, to reach the highest level of whatever subject I studied. I look back at the sacrifices my parents made in leaving their homeland and migrating to a new country with a different language, a different culture so I could get the best of the world and share it with others. My very first challenge was language. I knew that in order to move with the American crowd I should be well versed in the English language. It was a struggle to comprehend the language structure. The English I spoke was not enough and I joined various English courses to develop fluency not just in speech but in writing too. At Bellaire High School I was soon able to bring my grades up to a high average – my G.P.A. was now reaching 4.0. I took AP courses in Chemistry and Calculus. I was also peer tutoring other students."