21-Year-Old Celebrates As He Moves From Homeless Boy to UK Law School Student After Several Rejections, Shares His Story

Discover the inspiring journey of 21-year-old Renell Harding, who transformed personal adversity and homelessness into academic triumph and a promising legal career, showcasing the power of resilience and community support..

Born in London, Renell Harding’s life began with a significant challenge. As a newborn, he suffered from fluid on the brain due to an accident, which led to his first major obstacle—one he would live with forever. “This was my first obstacle, an obstacle that I will live with forever,” he recalls.

Before he even started nursery, Renell was diagnosed with autism and speech and language difficulties. Today, while these challenges might not be apparent to most, they still impact him academically and socially.

Renell’s mother faced immense financial struggles raising him and his younger sister. She often worked multiple jobs to make ends meet. When Renell was 13, life took a harsher turn.

“In 2011, when I was 13 and in year 8, my mum, my sister, and I were evicted and made homeless.” The family moved from friends’ houses to bed and breakfasts, never having a fixed address. Renell initially felt deep embarrassment about their situation. “At the time, and for the next five years, I was very embarrassed by this experience.”

However, this period was transformative for Renell. Witnessing his mother’s struggles ignited a fire in him. “Being homeless and seeing my mum struggle made me realize that life isn’t a joke.” Determined not to experience homelessness or financial hardship again, he resolved to excel in his education. This newfound determination led him to achieve decent GCSE grades despite his learning difficulties.

During his A Levels, Renell faced a rough year 12 but finished year 13 triumphantly with an A* in History and a C in Government and Politics, securing a place to study History at Swansea University. “Being able to secure a place at university was a massive achievement for me,” he says, proud to be the first in his immediate family to do so.

In February 2015, Renell experienced another life-changing event when he became a scholar of the Amos Bursary. The Bursary supports gifted boys of African and Caribbean origin to reach their full potential academically and professionally. “The Amos Bursary introduced me to like-minded, hard-working, intelligent black boys,” Renell shares. This network of scholars, who have achieved remarkable feats, became his second family and inspired him to aim higher.

Renell also found solace and strength in weight training. “Weight training for me has been hugely beneficial in multiple ways,” he explains. It brought discipline, structure, and mental fortitude, helping him cope with life’s challenges.

After graduating from Swansea University with a 2:1 in History in July 2019, Renell embarked on a bold endeavor—crowdfunding over £18,000 to study the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) at The University of Law (London Bloomsbury campus). “As a true introvert who isn’t the most vocal on social media, putting my entire life journey in my crowdfund campaign story and making it public was very nerve-racking!” Despite his reservations, with the support of friends, mentors, and the Amos Bursary community, he successfully funded his GDL.

The visibility of his campaign attracted attention from The University of Law and the John Bennett Trust, both of which offered scholarships that significantly contributed to his GDL costs. The GDL, a condensed one-year law conversion course, was intense, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Nonetheless, Renell persevered and graduated in July 2021.

Today, Renell works for the National Citizenship Service (NCS) while pursuing a career as a commercial lawyer, applying for training contracts. He also engages in public speaking, sharing his journey with schools and universities across London. “I like to think that the main thing anyone can learn from my story is that it does not matter where you start in life, you can still go places and do great things.”

Renell Harding’s story is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of community. His journey from adversity to aspiration inspires all who hear it, proving that with perseverance and support, anything is possible.

READ ALSO: Homeless Man Earns Two Bachelors, Masters, and PhD in Geophysics

SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, The Amos Bursary.