DC Man Who Lived in a Tent Under a Bridge Graduates Valedictorian, Now Off to College

Nationwide — Michael Jeffery, a Washington, D.C. resident who lost two jobs and his home during the pandemic, has overcome life’s challenges and has graduated as the valedictorian of his class at Goodwill Excel Center High School. What’s more, he is determined to pursue law school.After facing tough times in the middle of the pandemic, Jeffery ended up living in a tent under a bridge in the D.C. Navy Yard area.

Despite his challenging situation, Jeffery refused to give up. He enrolled in classes at the Goodwill Excel Center, a free high school program for adults, while still living on the streets.

“I didn’t want to be stuck out here. I don’t wish this on anybody, to be stuck out here,” Jeffery told NBC Washington.

After a year of hard work and determination, Jeffery’s efforts paid off. He recently graduated as the valedictorian of his class. Just before graduation, he moved out of the tent and into a new apartment.

“A lot of people don’t get that second chance, and Goodwill allowed that second chance for me, and I appreciate that,” Jeffery added.

Now, with his high school diploma in hand, Michael is setting his sights even higher. He has enrolled at Catholic University for the upcoming fall semester and plans to study legal studies, with aspirations of attending law school in the future.

“I’m studying legal studies. Who would’ve thought that I would be studying legal studies, right? There was no hope in this tent, but I found it, so you see how far I’ve come and how far I will get,” he said.