Famous foster teen to attend Harvard; inspires others to stay in school

June 11, 8:05 PMEducation ExaminerDonna Gundle-Krieg

A Michigan teen who has been in and out of eight foster care homes is going to attend Harvard this fall after earning a perfect SAT score.

“My story should serve to show there is no obstacle that is insurmountable,” said Alex Chivescu as he recently talked to a crowd at the Oakland County Dropout Prevention Network.

Chivescu’s mother suffered head injuries in a car accident when he was young, according to the Oakland Press in “From Homeless to Harvard.” He hasn’t seen his father since his parents divorced when he was two years old.

Last year, he was placed in an orphanage away from his high school, so he researched foster parents in the area and wrote a letter to all of them. For a heartwarming video of him talking about his search, see the video “Teen Fights To Find His Own Family.” Warning: get out your Kleenex!!

Foster parents Suzanne and Jim Bante responded to Alex’s note and took him in as a foster home. This enabled him to return to Stoney Creek High School in Rochester, where he felt a sense of unity.

During his speech to the dropout network, he credited his awesome foster parents as well as "teachers, friends, and after school activities" for keeping him on the right track.

To read his inspiring story as well as his advice for other teens, see “From Homeless to Harvard.”

In a related story about former foster children succeeding in college, see “Former foster kids get a fresh start with Western Michigan University scholarship program.”

These stories renew my faith in humanity, and prove that there are still so many good people in this world!