18-Year-Old Homeless Boy Becomes School’s Top Student, Gains Admission to Harvard University

Despite facing homelessness and a challenging upbringing, 18-year-old Derrick Ngo became the top student at Energy Institute High School in Houston and earned admission to Harvard University.

Derrick Ngo, an exceptional 18-year-old from Houston, Texas, overcame homelessness to become the best student at Energy Institute High School, earning admission to Harvard University.

Despite spending most of his final year in high school without a stable home, Derrick maintained his focus on academics, ultimately graduating with the highest grade point average in his class.

Driven by a desire to escape his challenging circumstances, Derrick channeled his frustrations into his studies, recognizing that education was his way out. He grew up in a difficult environment, often spending time in casinos due to his mother’s gambling addiction and dealing with a lack of parental guidance, as his father was absent and his mother frequently in and out of jail.

Derrick began living alone at 15, with limited financial support from his mother, and even faced homelessness at 17. Determined to break the cycle of his family’s struggles, he relied on discipline and a clear vision of success to stay motivated.

Derrick applied to four prestigious universities—University of Texas at Austin, Princeton University, Columbia University, and Harvard University—and was accepted by all. He plans to attend Harvard, where he will major in either philosophy or economics, with hopes of making a positive impact on others’ lives.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, SCHOLARSHIP REGION