This 14-year-old boy, like any other adolescent, was looking forward to his graduation ceremony. He was determined

to walk across the stage and receive his diploma. Unfortunately, things began to go wrong at the last minute.

But this young man was determined and found a way to go.

Xavier Jones, 14, of St. Louis, walked six miles from his house to his graduation ceremony last week because he was eager to cross the stage and earn the certificate he had fought so hard for.

‘If you want something done, you have to do it yourself,’ Xavier explained.

The 14-year-old attended Yeatman Middle School, but the ceremony took place at Harris-Stowe State University.

He was counting on his grandfather to give him a ride, but his car broke down at the last minute, leaving Xavier in a difficult predicament.

‘I was going to tell an adult, but my grandfather’s car had broken down.’ So I was going to walk there,” the young man explained.

Neither his grandfather nor the school administration were aware of Xavier’s intention to walk to the graduation ceremony.

‘I looked up Harris-Stowe University on Google Maps, and then I saw the walking distance, and I said, ‘I could probably make it,’’ she says.

Later, Xavier explained. Xavier requested his brother and a buddy to accompany him on his walk. The young man simply stated, ‘I wanted to walk across the stage.’

When the college administrators heard the young man’s story, they were so affected that they offered him a full-ride scholarship to Harris-Stowe State University

if he finished high school in four years. What a wonderful thing to have happened! The young man deserved it wholeheartedly.

The story of Xavier serves as a reminder of the difficulties many students encounter, according to Dr. Latonia Collins Smith,

president of Harris-Stowe State University. She claimed that people might learn from the young man’s tenacity.

Many of our pupils have a background story, and many of our students have overcome or are still fighting environmental

challenges, according to Collins Smith. One day, the full-ride scholarship will pay for all of Xavier’s expenses, including tuition, fees, and books.

Collins Smith said of the situation, “I just led with my heart and I followed my heart and my heart said,

‘This is a youngster that needs a scholarship. The prospective future home of Xavier was afterwards shown around.

The 14-year-old’s current goal is to join the NASCAR team after graduating from college.