When Robert was six years old, his father began to beat and verbally abuse his mother. By the time Robert was 10, his mother had the courage to divorce his father. Robert, his mother and his two brothers began a life of running from their father and struggling to survive.
Robert’s mother worked any job she could get in order to try to make ends meet. They lived in a car for months and took refuge at women’s shelters when possible.
Robert was told by his father that the family would be better off without him. This emotional and verbal abuse took a toll on Robert, and he attempted suicide twice. Despite the struggles he was facing, Robert persevered.
When on their way to the women’s shelter, Robert and his mother had a conversation that he’ll never forget. “I know our situation may not be what we want, but we have to deal with it,” Robert’s mother said. “I want you to promise me that you will go to college because I know you are capable of doing so, but you have to give it your all and try your best, so promise me.”
“Yes, Mom, I promise I will go to college, and I will complete it,” Robert replied to his mother. Since that moment, he has never forgotten that promise he made.
Part of Robert’s journey to college was coming to live at BGC in 2013. Before arriving to our campus, Robert had been to nine different schools. He was described as intelligent but had never been in school long enough to develop consistently good grades.
Realizing the opportunities he now had available to him, Robert applied himself and began to receive straight A’s. He earned extra credit by taking advanced level courses and maintained a 5.0 GPA. His hard work paid off when he graduated in the top 10% of his class from Waller High School and was awarded a $32,000 college scholarship.
Following graduation, Robert joined our College and Career program where students can continue to receive financial and emotional support as they pursue higher education. Robert chose to attend Oklahoma Christian University (OCU) and majored in medical laboratory science.
College proved to be more difficult than Robert expected, but he remembers the encouragement he received from BGC during that time. “I called when I was having a freak out about the work load. They were there with emotional support and even visited me at OCU several times. Knowing they were there for me and to help me push through the tough times, it made me feel like they truly cared about my success.”
Through hard work and perseverance, Robert graduated from OCU in May of this year. After graduation, students at BGC are offered their choice of a gently used vehicle or a monetary gift to help kick start their new life. Robert chose to receive a vehicle that will help with his new commute as a laboratory technician.
Robert attributes his success to all the love and care he received while at Boys and Girls Country, none of which would have been possible without the prayers and support of donors who make our mission happen!
