Jacob Lewis, 22 years of age, had quite a hard time with quite a lot of hard work which eventually paid off. Being homeless and extremely poor, Jacob had to go through a lot to turn his dream into reality; to get elite education without any support from his family. He was dropped out of college at the age of 17 and then returned to his studies as a mature student, after he felt the need to when his friends and mates were seen graduating.
“At the start of this year I was working 24 hours a week to support my studies and make ends meet, I was barely eating.”
Jacob, after a fall-out with his family, was left with no roof over his head. Jacob was forced into sleeping on friends’ sofas – but spent every waking hour at the college. He lost his zero-hours contract with a nightclub after he asked to take time off for the sake of giving his exams. But he didn’t give up.
“I was on a zero-hours contract and my employer wouldn’t let me have time off for an exam,” he recalled. “I had never missed a shift and I wasn’t prepared to jeopardize my A-levels for £6.50 an hour.” “It was a challenge; but not an impossible one.”
He also gave some credit of his success to his college who gave him benefit through its student hardship fund; Coleg y Cymoedd is the largest A level provider in Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf with over 500 learners receiving results. Jacob said he put an extreme effort to make his results outstanding; he spent 12 hours a day in the library. After seeing his result, this effort was worth it.
Jacob obtained 4A*s in his A levels – in the subjects of history, law, sociology and the Welsh Baccalaureate. He acquired 100% both in history and overall in law. Jacob is his college’s first student to be placed in the Cambridge University. He stated: “I’m absolutely delighted with my results and I hope this shows Welsh students that with hard work and dedication this can be done and dreams can come true.”
Jacob said he didn’t have any firm career or future plans ready after he finishes his education. But he has a sincere “commitment to try and make the world a better place.”
Furthermore, Jacob’s college’s principal Judith Evans stated that she is too extremely proud of all the success Jacob received. “We are so proud of him and are delighted to have been part of his journey.”
Razzan Sehar
Angels International College
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