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40-Year-Old Mom Spent Three Years In Prison - Now She's an Intern at Princeton

Life can take us down unexpected and scary roads. Sometimes, we don’t know how to get off those roads and begin the climb to a better future. As this mom proved, however, anything is possible with a second chance and a little determination.

She Was Born in Prison and Then Raised by a Single Dad - Years Later, Shes Going to Harvard on a Full Scholarship
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She Was Born in Prison and Then Raised by a Single Dad - Years Later, Shes Going to Harvard on a Full Scholarship

"I was born in prison." It was the opening line of a powerful admissions essay for Harvard University. But it was also the beginning of Aurora Sky Castner's life.Eighteen years ago, Castner was born in the Galveston County jail. Her mother, who had a history of criminal activity was sentenced to an extended term just months before her birth.Days after she was born, Castner's bipolar father picked her up from prison and raised her as a single dad, per the Courier. Today, she just graduated third in her class at Conroe High School and is heading to Harvard. She plans to study law. How a Teen Who Started in Prison Ended Up at HarvardCastner is no stranger to adversity. Born in jail, abandoned by her mother, raised by a single father struggling with his mental health, and faced with the many challenges that come with childhood trauma and living in poverty, her road hasn't been easy.But it's a road she hasn't had to travel alone. During elementary school, her teachers recognized her potential and felt she would benefit from a community mentoring program. They linked her with CISD’s Project Mentor program which partners volunteers with students in need.And that's when Mona Hamby stepped in. Castner didn't know it then, but Hamby would become one of her greatest cheerleaders and coach.The moment Hamby met the little girl, she knew she was special. "I was given a paper about her. Her hero was Rosa Parks, her favorite food was tacos from Dairy Queen and she loved to read," Hamby told the Houston Chronicle."I thought this sounds like a bright little girl."Hamby did more than just provide academic tutoring. She took the quiet girl under her wing and provided a much-needed respite for her overwhelmed dad. She helped Castner with day-to-day things like picking out new glasses and going for her first salon haircut. “It was a very different environment than I grew up in and that’s not a bad thing,” Castner said. “Everything that Mona taught me was very valuable in the same way that everything that I went through before Mona was very valuable.” How a Network of Supporters Made All the Difference to a Girl Born in a Prison CellOther community members also played a pivotal role in Castner's life. Including a Boston University professor who helped the teen write the essay that would wow the Harvard admissions committee, and ultimately, lead to her early acceptance to the Ivy League school.It truly does take a village. Despite the odds stacked against her, Castner has managed to defy her origins and redefine her life. Rather than be weighted down by the socio-economic obstacles in her life, once-strangers helped to buoy her up. She excelled at school, earning straight A's. In high school, she enrolled in the Academy for Health and Science Professions in the hopes of realizing her dream of going to Harvard. A dream she's had forever. In an Instagram post that has since been made private, Mona Hamby wrote: "Girl set a goal to go to Harvard in elementary school despite being born in poverty. Received full scholarship to attend Harvard in 2023."Mona Hamby via InstagramNot only is Castner headed to Harvard, but she's doing it on a full scholarship.Never Imprison Your DreamsAt only 18 years old, Castner has defied societal expectations. And while she credits others with her success there's no denying that without her strength, determination, and resilience, she wouldn't be where she is today.She had a dream and she pursued it relentlessly, despite the odds against her. She didn't allow her past to dictate her future. And luckily for her, she had tremendous support along the way.Castner is living proof that it doesn't matter where you start. What matters is where you finish.More from Goalcast:16-Year-Old Student Accepted to Over 186 Colleges — Receives More Than $10 Million in Scholarship OffersMan Forced to Become Trash Collector When No College Would Accept Him – Then, His Brother Drops Out and Makes a Huge Sacrifice

Man Is Wrongfully Convicted for 30 Years - His First Stop After Getting Out Is Meeting a Woman He Has Never Seen Before
Uplifting News

Man Is Wrongfully Convicted for 30 Years - His First Stop After Getting Out Is Meeting a Woman He Has Never Seen Before

When the whole world turns their back on you, the support of just one person can change everything. Recently, a wrongfully convicted man was able to meet his pen pal after being in prison for nearly 30 years.How One Man Was Convicted for a Crime He Never CommittedPhoto by RDNE Stock projectIn St. Louis, Missouri in 1995, Lamar Johnson was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Marcus Boyd. 21-year-old Lamar plead innocent, stating that he was with his girlfriend at the time -- no where the scene of the crime. Without further evidence, Lamar was put behind bars.In 1998, Ginny Schrappen's church minister handed her a letter. It was from a desperate Lamar Johnson hoping that someone would write back. "He was in prison for murder," Ginny said. "I've been accused of being naive before, and that's OK. I wasn't worried. He's not going to come and get me.”Over the next 25 years, Lamar and Ginny frequently exchanged letters. Ginny recounts that from the start, she believed there was no way that Lamar had committed that crime. “The letters got a little deeper,” Ginny said. “I knew that he was a very, very good person.”Earlier this year, Lamar Johnson was vindicated from the crime he never committed. The process of freeing Lamar took 4 years and a change in Missouri law. Now, 49-year-old Lamar Johnson is a free man.After being freed, Lamar told the story of Ginny Schrappen. He was grateful and thankful to have someone to speak to when everyone else didn’t believe in him. “Especially when somebody is innocent, you want someone to believe in you,” Lamar said. “Because when you have people who believe in you and they won’t give up on you, then it makes it harder for you to give up on yourself.”How a Stranger Proved It Takes Just One Person to Help Lamar made it his top priority to go see Ginny, the former school teacher who is now 80-years-old. He went to Ginny’s house for the first time, where she greeted him with a big hug. The two were stunned to see each other in person. “To see somebody in person, to hug them and sit across the table from them, which is what we did, I was almost out of my skin,” Ginny said.Ginny gave Lamar a tour of her house, brought him his favourite cereal and exchanged stories face to face. She then handed Lamar one last letter that wrote: “You deserve the best, Lamar.” Lamar said that through all of his hardship, the greatest gift he had received was the confidence his friend instilled in him.Lamar was welcomed into his new life with open arms. He finally gets a chance to travel the world, experience new things, and spend time with his family. Because of the work of Missouri lawmakers, he is able to be present at his daughters wedding.Ginny gave Lamar confidence in his darkest times. Without the excitement of her letters, Lamar wouldn’t be where he is today. “I always told him, ‘Lamar, I’ll be there,’” said Ginny. “I was one of the people that kept him connected to the world.”