Dontae Thompson's Journey From 'Inmate to FAMU Alumni' Is Inspiration for Everyone
This is 25-year-old Dontae Thompson
Thompson recently graduated from Florida A&M University and posted an Instagram post reflecting on his troubled past
We spoke with Thompson about his life before attending college
"Before I went to FAMU, I was a troubled adolescent following behind the wrong crowd. Out of 31 days in high school, I skipped 15. I barely graduated high school, and when I did, my parents put me out because of the path I was going down," Thompson told BET.
"I was fortunate enough to be given a place to stay in a poverty-stricken house where I didn't have money for food or anything for that matter. A month after I went to jail, I got out and fell back into the same pattern and ended up homeless staying in a hotel. I eventually found a stable job and was able to get back on my feet and decided I wanted more in life and I asked for assistance from my family to help me enroll in college after being out of high school for three years."
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Thompson's post received an incredible amount of support
"When I graduated from FAMU, it meant to me that I had finally lived up to my potential. I had finally made my parents proud," Thompson said.
His story received over 50,000 shares on Facebook from people who were inspired by his 'glo up'
"When I posted the photo, I had no idea the amount of attention it would get. I simply posted to show the obstacles I had overcome to prove that no matter what you may go through, If you stay focused and keep faith you can overcome anything," Thompson told BET.
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Although we still live in a nation of social injustice and disenfranchisement, Thompson's story proves your past doesn't dictate your future
Keep doing your thing, Dontae!
