Rejected by parents, gay valedictorian is going to college, with $50K from donors

[chiirbii]

 

Seth Owen, 18, said attending college has always been his “life goal,†one he has been working on diligently since elementary school.

 

“I was the nerd in fifth grade who walked around recess talking about how I wanted to be an astronaut,†Owen told NBC News. “I was always in a textbook, always in the library, always reading something.â€

 

With a 4.16 GPA and an acceptance letter from Georgetown University, it seemed like the high school valedictorian’s dream would become a reality. But when he received his financial aid package from the prestigious school, a different reality set in: The financial aid package had been determined based on the expected contribution of his family, a family he said drove him out of his home due to his sexuality.

 

“I started to cry, because I realized there was no way that I could go to college,†he said. “Georgetown was my only option, because I had already denied my other acceptances.â€

 

With Georgetown refusing to amend his financial aid package and $20,000 needed for his first year’s tuition, the Florida teen thought his situation was hopeless. But then his former biology teacher stepped in.

 

“Seth was just a kid that really stood out to me,†the teacher, Jane Martin, told NBC News. “He was super ambitious and was always trying to go above and beyond to make sure he could be as successful as possible.â€

 

Martin set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for Owen’s tuition, hoping to “make the impossible possible,†and she succeeded. As of Tuesday afternoon, the fundraising page raised over $50,000 — more than double its initial $20,000 goal.

 

a whole lot more at the source

 

Ultimately:

 

 

“The worst part was I was packing my bags, and I was walking out the door, and I was hoping that my mom would stand in my way. I was hoping that she would say ‘I love my child more than I love my religion.’â€

 

Sounds like these parents gave up on an awesome kid.

 

[Lolly21]

Congrats!

 

He just wants to study. And he got the money! Good for him!

[· Moonrise ·]

such loathable parents

[starsocks]

some people...

[Midnight~Circus]

His parents should be ashamed of themselves. Thank God we was able to attend college in the end and bless his teacher for taking the initiative to help him when his own parents would not.

[Solfa]

Good luck. Study hard and move on with your life, we don’t choose our parents, but it’s better to leave them when they’re toxic. You have suffered so much, you deserve more good to happen to you.

[blackpearl.mp3]

His parents should be ashamed of themselves, no one deserves to go through this. I wish him the best of luck in college.

[frozentear]

Such horrible parents. Congrats this guy and I wish him luck!