Dallas ISD Student Participates In Summer Commencement Ceremony After Being Homeless During His Senior Year

Just recently, Dallas ISD held their summer graduation for those who didn’t walk across the stage in the spring.

“When you try not to focus on the bad, good will eventually come to you,” stated Christian Sampson, a Wilmer Hutchins High School graduate. “So, I tried not to focus on the bad stuff that was happening, even though there was also bad stuff happening.”

Sampson can remember a time when he never believed that he would graduate.

Last October, he spent six months on the streets after having a dispute with his family, and he was made to leave home. Although he missed many days of school, Dallas ISD’s homeless education program still provided Sampson with resources and assistance from his counselor at Wilmer Hutchins High School.

Now that he has graduated, Sampson plans to attend the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff where he has been offered a full scholarship to be a part of the marching band.

He currently resides in an apartment in Arlington that is paid for by the Salvation Army. Since he doesn’t have a vehicle, he now has has to figure out how he will get to the college.

Sampson says that he knows that his future is bright and has vowed to come back to Dallas one day to give back to his community.