18 years old and homeless, Griffin Furlong to graduate as valedictorian: http://t.co/RFhI7XJZFz #AmericaStrong pic.twitter.com/DISejPzYbJ
— ABC News (@ABC) May 30, 2014
Griffin M. Furlong grew up living in shelters, borrowed couches and hotels. He doesn’t wake up in his own bed or the same bed in the morning. He and his family have been homeless for 12 years. That has been his situation ever since cancer stole the life of his mother 12 years ago.
One night he was in a hotel laying in a bed. He didn’t have anything to eat. He said he was starving. He had school the next day. He knew there was nothing he could do. His teachers didn’t really know he was homeless. A teacher said, Griffin has never missed an assignment.
Even with the conditions as they were, his drive and purpose drove him. He went form homeless to valedictorian! In his graduation speech, Griffin said, “I perform the way I do in the classroom because I have everything to lose.” He says, “I never want to live a life like that again.”
On the brim of his baseball caps, he writes, “never give up,” so he never forgets. He wants to show people that anyone can do it! Congratulations Griffin. Thanks for being an inspiration. There is a video below from ABC News and also a video of his graduation commencement speech here (it’s taken with a cell phone so it’s shaky, but good content).
