A first-generation Nigerian-American teenager who busses to and from high school for nearly four hours a day has been accepted into eight Ivy League universities.
Ashley Adirika, 17, from Miami Gardens, Florida, will begin a full-time trip to Harvard University next fall to study government after graduating from Miami Beach High on June 1.
The former Miami Herald student council president said he had always dreamed of attending an Ivy League college and applied to all eight after a friend encouraged him to “seize the opportunity.”
Scroll down for the video
Ashley Adirika, 17, from Miami Gardens, Florida, has been accepted into all eight Ivy League universities.
The impressive teenager graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School on June 1.
Adrika spent every morning and afternoon on the bus to and from her high school, which is about two hours’ drive from her home.
Acceptance and Grant Letters a It was followed by Harvard, Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University and Yale University.
“It was surreal,” he told the newspaper. “It was nice to know that the hard work I put into my education path was rewarded and [colleges] know him. ‘
As well as being a great student, Adirika has a passion for conversation and debate that started when she was an eighth grader at Carol City Middle School.
Bess Rodriguez, a seventh grade English art teacher, heard of her impressive academic record and recruited her.
Everyone knew Ashley because she was so smart. There were rapidly rising test scores; He participates in all the different activities,” Rodriguez told ABC News † “So I hired him and he had never been in a fight before. ”
The former student union president told the Miami Herald that he had always dreamed of going to an Ivy League college and ran for all eight after a friend encouraged him to “take his chance.”
Adrika makes a full transfer to Harvard University with an offer she can’t refuse
Adrika’s poise and confidence in discussing complex issues such as criminal law reform has garnered praise from ordinary lawyers and competition judges.
When he got to high school, he decided to take the long drive to Miami Beach Senior High School, about two hours from his home.
Not only did his older brothers go there, he knew the school could offer him more opportunities than his neighborhood.
He told the Miami Herald that he was particularly interested in the school’s “fantastic speeches and debate programme.”
He finished second in the state championship as a freshman on the speaking and debating team.
As well as being a great student, Adirika has a passion for conversation and debate that started when she was an eighth grader at Carol City Middle School.
One of the reasons he went to and from Miami Beach Senior High was because of the “great talk and debate program.”
Adika thanks her moms and older sisters for encouraging her to follow her passions and give back to the community
Most recently, he and his partner were nominated for two qualifiers to represent Miami-Dade County at the national debate in Kentucky next week.
Adika thanks her mothers and older sisters for encouraging her to follow her passions and give back to the community.
“They gave me strength and supported me until the end. So no matter what I dream big or small, they have become my #1 fans.”
Adrika experienced instability growing up and saw the sacrifice firsthand when her older sister, Tracy Adirika, refused admission to Princeton University to become her and her siblings’ guardians.
Adrika was in her sophomore year when she founded Our Story Our Worth, a community mentoring program that empowers female students of color.
Adrika said she didn’t want to be “identified” by the two of them. [her] When he moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts for his freshman year at Harvard
“I want to use these experiences to make an impact,” he said.
She was in sophomore year when she founded Our Story Our Value, a community organization that supports young female students of color through mentorship, service, and fraternity.
Tracy was by her side as she opened her eight Ivy League acceptance letters, a moment neither of them will ever forget.
“Supporting him and witnessing that day was one of the best times of my life,” Tracy told the Miami Herald.
Adrika said she didn’t want to be “identified” by anyone. [her] war” when he moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts for his freshman year at Harvard.
“I want to use these experiences to make an impact,” he explains.
Source: Daily Mail
