Homeless student graduates as class valedictorian: ‘Don’t let things get you down,’ he says

In New Orleans, a homeless student graduates as valedictorian, proving that no obstacle is too great for a determined mind.

At 19, Elijah Hogan never imagined he’d finish high school, let alone as class valedictorian.

He expressed surprise reflecting on his accomplishment just a week after graduating from Walter L. Cohen High School in New Orleans. “There were a lot of obstacles I went through, but I was able to confront them head-on,” the top student said.

Despite spending over a year at Covenant House, a homeless shelter, while attending school, he maintained an impressive 3.89 GPA.

“Above all the trials, tests and hardships, what led us here is that we all set a goal to reach,” Elijah said during his graduation speech on May 24. “Don’t let things get you down. Don’t let it chain you down,” he added. 

He encouraged everyone onstage to acknowledge their progress and look forward to the future, while also reminding them to enjoy the journey ahead.

A week after the ceremony at Cohen, Elijah reflects that it was overwhelming, but he remained calm.

He describes it as a relaxed moment to see everyone there and considers it a memorable occasion.

Elijah was born in New Orleans and spent time growing up in both New Orleans and Houston. He has three siblings.

When his housing situation became unstable, his grandmother, who used to work as a social worker, told him about Covenant House.

“Her lease form for the house that we all used to live in started to expire,” Elijah explains, adding that with just 30 days until they had to move out, Elijah took the initiative to live independently.

His grandmother provided information about Covenant House and encouraged him to pursue his education.

Elijah praised Covenant for their unwavering support during his time in school.

He emphasized the shelter’s crucial role, providing him with a place to stay, eat, and sleep.

He believes he wouldn’t have completed high school without their assistance, acknowledging that he owes his current situation to them.

Balancing life at the shelter with attending classes was quite challenging for Elijah.

He explained that the hardest challenge he faced was fitting in and trusting others.

He kept to himself, not sharing his experience with others at Covenant House and Cohen.

Meanwhile, the support from both the shelter and the high school helped Elijah to open up.

He began to trust them little by little until he could fully rely on them for his needs.

This support also helped him pass all his grades and graduate from high school.

Jarkayla Cobb, Elijah’s case manager, recalled him as introspective upon their first meeting. She thought he was a genius.

She explained that the teen didn’t say too many words during their initial encounter in her office, but just by observing him and hearing him speak, she thought, “This is a brainiac.”

Jarkayla proudly attended Elijah’s graduation ceremony at Cohen High.

“I was front row and center,” she says, explaining that she was the first to shout Elijah’s name as he walked out before any other parent began cheering for their children.

She added that witnessing Elijah’s joy in that moment was all she could ask for.

Another important figure in Elijah’s journey is Jana DeCoster, the director of student activities at Cohen High School, who has witnessed and supported his success, ABC News noted.

“All of our students experience different levels of trauma, different experiences, and I think Elijah recognizes, like, yes, he had adults in his corner, but all of our students who made it to graduation also had adults in their corner,” DeCoster said.

DeCoster added that it’s uncommon for people like them to be thanked at such a big event as graduation and Elijah’s thoughtfulness in considering not just himself, but all his classmates, is remarkable and special.

Now, the homeless student who graduates as valedictorian is excited for a new journey.

As a fan of Marvel and Stan Lee who enjoys reading nonfiction and creating art, Elijah is preparing for college in the fall at Xavier University of Louisiana, aiming to study graphic design.

For students aspiring to follow his path, Elijah suggests prioritizing schoolwork.

“There is a time and place where you can have fun, but try to keep yourself organized on some of your education as well, because, without your education, you will not be able to get through the hardships and meet the people that helped you along the way,” Elijah said. 

Watch the homeless student who graduates as valedictorian through the video below: