Homeless Girl Graduated Best Student, Got into Top University
In November 2015, Megan Faircloth, a resolute 17-year-old, had a challenging time of homelessness together with her family. They relocated among the residences of their relatives, motels, shelters, and even resided in their vehicle.
Notwithstanding these difficult conditions, Megan persevered with her academic pursuits at East Wake High School in Wendell, North Carolina. She sought solace in the inspiring ballad “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor and immersed herself in narratives of individuals triumphing over hardship to maintain her morale.
Each day after school, Megan’s mother, Melva Faircloth, would diligently seek financial resources to find overnight accommodations. Frequently, they would not reach a resolution until midnight, causing Megan to begin her schoolwork at a late hour. On occasion, she would do her assignments in their vehicle or in public parks. They had limited access to the internet, which made her studying more challenging.
Megan’s tenacity had positive results. She graduated from East Wake High School as the valedictorian, with an impressive 5.25 GPA. Despite facing an unstable family situation, she demonstrated exceptional performance in advanced-placement studies and actively participated in many school activities. Due to her diligent efforts and unwavering will, she secured admission to Stanford University.
Megan reminisced about a particularly arduous period during her travel when she was doing her schoolwork outside and encountered an unexpected downpour. She said, “This moment has the potential to mark either the conclusion or the commencement of my ongoing battle.” Her persistent mentality of resilience propelled her forward.
The family had difficulties when they were forced to leave their leased home after the unexpected death of the landlord. Soon later, Melva Faircloth had a surgical procedure to remove a tumor, resulting in her inability to engage in employment. The family often received irregular financial assistance from relatives, resulting in their frequent reliance on hotels or their own vehicle for accommodation.
Megan’s college admission process was fraught with uncertainty due to their lack of a fixed location at the time. Nevertheless, her aspiration to enroll at Stanford, ignited by the university’s fascination in her, continued to drive her.
In October 2016, the family permanently relocated to live with a relative. Megan and her sisters exhibited resilience and a positive outlook, serving as a source of fortitude for their mother, despite the difficulties they faced. Melva Faircloth expressed great delight in Megan’s accomplishments, stating, “She emerged stronger as a result of everything.”
In 2022, Megan successfully completed her studies at Stanford University and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree. Currently, in the year 2024, she is employed as an ABA Therapist at Trumpet Behavioral Health.
Her encounters have intensified her fervor for empathy and advocacy for mental health. Megan highlights the need of ensuring mental health treatment is easily available and supports the implementation of inclusive, trauma-informed, and restorative systems, rather than ones that are exclusive, neurotypical, and oppressive.
CREDIT: Allschoolabs, ALLSCHOOL
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