L.A. homeless girl headed to Harvard University

Khadijah Williams is known as "Harvard girl," the "smart girl" and the girl with the contagious smile who landed at Jefferson High School only 18 months ago.

What students don't know is that she is also a homeless girl.

As long as she can remember, Khadijah has floated from shelters to motels to armories along the West Coast with her mother. She has attended 12 schools in 12 years and lived out of garbage bags among pimps, prostitutes and drug dealers. Every morning, she upheld her dignity, making sure she didn't smell or look disheveled.

On the streets, she learned how to hunt for their next meal, plot the next bus route and help choose a secure place to sleep -- survival skills she applied with passion to her education.

Read the full story here.

-- Esmeralda Bermudez in Pico-Union

Comments

[trae]

I am happy for Ms. Williams, it is just further proof that regardless of life's struggles those struggles make one tougher and more determined. I am gathering by her mother and their life, their handout's were minimal, that she didn't feel anything owed to her; rather, she rose above it, valiantly and worked for what she is reaping. I can't imagine anyone out there would not give her a shining send off including best wishes, great success and when she has made it I bet mom lives in her home. I say to you Ms. Williams continue your hard work you will make yourself a success, that appears to be a minimum of what you have already accomplished~ You have my blessing and support.

[Fran Cornwell]

WOW! Khadijah Williams' story is an inspiration to all women that they can live their dreams. Last year I was on a jury and saw first-hand what happens to kids who live, and try to survive in, gang areas of Los Angeles. Ms. Williams has risen above her environment and is already a success - from now on she will just build on her success. Best of luck in the future - you deserve it!

[Judy]

I am already excited about sharing this wonderful story with my arriving sixth graders when school resumes in August. I hope there is some way to keep updated on Khadijah's Harvard journey. She is more than an inspiration. She is a miracle to behold.

[Charly]

Moderator how dare are you to restrict fredom of speech by not approving my last comment. You're newspaper whos is protected by free speech yet you restrict your readers free speech by not approving the replys that you don't like.

As said in my earlier post that you didn't approve, this girl should be working in Mcdonalds mopping floors and going to community college like all other kids would be doing. Once she is done their she can transfer to a good school even harvard if she has good enough grades. This is the american way...

[Norma]

Although I seldom write comments online I could not resist commenting how special this young lady is and her mother and sister too who throughout all their ordeals have encouraged her to make something out of herself and she is meant for big things out there in this world and no doubt will make an incredible impact in a positive sense. She will do great things and has climbed mountains already. Good things must come to all three of them and I hope that she is well loved and appreciated for her achievements while at Harvard. What a wonderful story. If there is any fund that has been set up to help her with personal needs please advise

[Seeh2o]

Many, many kudos to Khadijah. What an amazing example she is for others - both fortunate and less fortunate. I so look forward to hearing updates and finding out what more she accomplishes in her life. Best wishes to Khadijah for a bright and successful future.

And to Charly, I'm not sure which "America" you are from. It certainly doesn't resemble the one I've lived in all my life.

[m]

"Charly" - She worked hard and got a scholarship to Harvard, why would you have you work for minimum wage and toil away in community college? Imagine what this young woman could have accomplished if she had parents who bought her expensive tutors, private schools and a BMW to transport herself to and from school. Instead, she had absolutely nothing and persevered, more so than many affluent children who are content to mooch off their parents and get involved in drugs.

Your post also demonstrates that you probably have not even finished high school. You confuse many homophones and have a poor grasp of plural suffixes. Get a clue.

Congratulations and best wishes to this young woman and her family.

[bcotton]

This is my first ever comments on any articles. This is one of the most inspiration and heart warming article I have ever read. This article brought me tears of joy and happiness the entire time I was reading. Can the writer of this article please email me a forwarding address for Miss. Williams I would like to send her a graduation and a gift card.

[Mike]

Congratulations to Ms. Williams. I know she will be successful at whatever she decides to do. She will inspire many. Thanks to the L.A. Times for the story. I will be sending this to all of my friends and family.

[tony hicks]

I ride the bus with her for the last 6 months and i knew she was something special everytime i spoke to her. I would have never known she was homeless. If i had known, i would have helped her family. i still remember her talking to the bus driver about her 1st and 2nd interviews with Harvard. she was so scared, but the driver told her, "just be yourself." evidently it worked! GOOD LUCK GIRLFRIEND. WE THE RIDERS ON THE 55O WILL BE ROOTING FOR YOU!!!!

[Michelle]

I am so touched by Khadijah Williams and Harvard's decision to provide her an opportunity. I'd like my tax dollars going to help people like Khadijah Williams and schools that give people like her an opportunity to succeed. The success of Khadijah Williams is bigger than Khadijah. She will inspire so many more people - children and adults. I want to make sure she succeeds. Are there any mechanisms in place to help her with the day-to-day expenses? I'd like to make a financial contribution to her success and track her as she ascends towards the stars. Michelle

[AC KELLEY]

I was so touch by this story. As a father of three intellegent children to chose to under achieve in education, and life I am so proud of this young lady. We try to give our children so much, but the things we give them become important than educations. Children spend more time playing computer games, on youtube, facebook, myspace, or just surfing the internet than they do studying. I wish there was something I could do to help this young lady and her family. I am not wealthy. I have been hurt by the economy just as millions of others, but if I give a little, and other poeple give a little, we can do great things.

[Melissa Douge]

This young girl is an inspiration for all young women and men who think that they don't have it to make it somewhere in the future. It doesn't matter where you can come from, if you put effort in what you want to accomplish you will achieve it. Despite the recession, there still is hope for anyone who wants to live the American dream. Good luck Kadisha; there will be many more challenges that will come your way, but don't give up and don't back down.

[Victor Flores]

CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. WILLIAMS!!!!!!! I have also been accepted to Harvard Class of 29013 under similar conditions and it is obviously extremely difficult. I truly do respect Khadijah because I know from experience that it requires a great deal of determination, patience, hard work, and so much more. At times it feels the odd are against you, but when you realize the potential that education possesses, your future is without limits. Hopefully, I shall meet you at Harvard Khadijah. Enjoy your summer and continue to follow your dreams and don't let go of the source of your ambition and motivation.

[DISNEY FREAK]

This story almost made me cry tears of joy and tears of sadness!! I am so happy 4 Khadijah!! This resembles a great example of how kids should pay attention to studies, and if you do you will get far in life. I'm a high school student myself, and I am really going to try hard this year. Kids should see that a homeless girl reached up to being a "HARVARD GIRL." Though she moved around a lot with her mother and sister to different alley ways, streets, and much more dirty places, but she strided forward and followed her dream.

"M," I agree with you 100%!! Why should a girl be working for min. wage when she got a scholaship to a very big and famous university?!? "Charly," I think you need to realize that this girl had her dream, and now it came true!!

GOD BLESS YOU KHADIJAH WILLIAMS AND MAY YOU ALWAYS SUCCEED!!

[NancyG]

Thank you for your kind words of support to Khadijah and those who have supported her.

Khadijah is now enrolled at Harvard and has a website that gives more information - http://www.khadijiahwilliams.com

Khadijah also appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show which will air (tentatively) on October 2. Watch for the surprise!