High school valedictorian with 8.07 GPA overcomes several challenges, including homelessness

Jasmine Mazard-Larry, a remarkable 17-year-old girl, overcame all difficulties to become the top graduate and valedictorian of her school in the United States.

Jasmine Mazard-Larry’s parents’ home burning down during her first year of high school presented a difficulty, but she remained dedicated to her studies and eventually graduated with an exceptional 8.07 GPA.

At Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School, Mazard-Larry enrolled in Advanced Placement classes, took part in dual enrollment, and completed the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education program. Her involvement in numerous initiatives raised her GPA.

Mazard-Larry Speaking about her experience and explained that she learned to persevere during the tough times she faced

“I think going through all of this … has led me to want to persevere and want to show little girls or boys my age that they can do it too,” she told GMA.

The Principal of Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School, Marlee Strawn, lauded her effort noting that she had the initiative to go above and beyond.

“She had this goal of being top in her class, and ultimately she met it,” Strawn said. Jasmine made her family proud.

Her mother, Nidta Mazard, who was nine-month pregnant with her brother at the time the fire incident made them homeless, praised Jasmine for scaling through the struggles.

And here Jasmine, in the midst of it all, [started] high school. Her behavior could have changed because of a lot of things that she was already going through,”Nidta told GMA.

“But instead, she used that as a light to help me because I almost died giving birth to my son,” she added.

READ ALSO: Homeless teen mom becomes High School valedictorian, gets $600K scholarships

She is the first black valedictorian at her High School in 152 years

Jasmine Mazard-Larry also has ADHD and hearing loss during her time in High School and had to defeat the thoughts of her disability impeding some of her goals

““I use my little brother as my motivation. Sometimes it can be challenging, but I look at him and I want to be a role model for him,” she said.

She encourage young people like her to fight hard against any obstacle that is affecting their progress.

“We all have our own story. There’s the good and the bad. But don’t overlook the bad because it makes you who you are.