Elijah Hogan — From a Homeless Shelter to Valedictorian
Name: Elijah Hogan | State: Louisiana | Achievement: Graduated as valedictorian with a 3.93 GPA
Elijah Hogan experienced hardships that could easily have interrupted his education.
His mother died when he was only eight years old. He later lived with his grandmother, but before his senior year of high school, Elijah faced housing instability and moved into Covenant House, a New Orleans shelter that supports young people experiencing homelessness.
Living in a shelter while attending school was difficult. Elijah had to manage uncertainty about his living situation while completing assignments, preparing for exams and meeting all the responsibilities of his senior year.
He could have concluded that succeeding academically was impossible. Instead, Elijah continued going to school and remained focused on graduating.
Accepting Support
Elijah did not accomplish everything alone. At Covenant House, he received support from people who helped him find greater stability. He also formed relationships with teachers, school employees and classmates at Walter L. Cohen High School.
Elijah later explained that these supportive relationships helped him reach graduation. His experience demonstrates that accepting help is not a sign of weakness. Sometimes, connecting with the right people becomes an essential part of moving forward.
Rather than hiding his circumstances or abandoning his education, Elijah used the assistance available to him while continuing to do his part.
Rising to the Top of His Class
Despite living in a youth shelter for more than a year, Elijah completed high school with a 3.93 grade-point average. In May 2024, the 19-year-old graduated as one of two valedictorians of Walter L. Cohen High School.
Elijah delivered a graduation speech that he described as a thank-you message to the school community that supported him. He recognized that his achievement resulted from both personal perseverance and the encouragement he received from others.
After graduation, Elijah planned to attend Xavier University of Louisiana and study graphic design. He also hoped to use his artistic abilities to create and publish a comic book.
What Helped Elijah Succeed?
Elijah's circumstances were not completely within his control, but he concentrated on the choices he could make:
- ✓He continued attending school during an unstable period.
- ✓He remained committed to his assignments and academic goals.
- ✓He accepted assistance instead of trying to handle everything alone.
- ✓He developed relationships with supportive adults and students.
- ✓He refused to allow homelessness to determine his identity or future.
- ✓He kept planning for college and a creative career.
The Every Choice Matters Lesson
Elijah's story reminds us that your present circumstances do not determine your potential. A difficult home life, financial hardship or poor living situation can make education much harder — but needing help does not make someone less intelligent, capable or deserving of success.
You are more than the hardship you are experiencing. Keep moving forward, accept help when you need it and never allow your current circumstances to write the ending of your story.
Questions for Teen Readers
- 1Is a personal difficulty currently interfering with your education?
- 2Who is one trustworthy person you could ask for assistance?
- 3What is one school assignment or responsibility you can complete today?
- 4What goal would you continue pursuing even if your circumstances became difficult?
- 5How could your education help you build a more secure future?
This is a documented true story. Elijah's achievement and circumstances were reported by The Associated Press and Good Morning America.