While kids around the globe eagerly await Santa’s arrival with gifts, high school seniors are on the edge of their seats for an even bigger reveal – their college acceptance letters. Last week, senior Alex Thompson from Riverbend Academy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, found himself surrounded by teachers and classmates as he waited to discover if he had been accepted into his dream school, Cornell University.
“It was the most nerve-wracking moment of my life,” Thompson shared with The Daily Buzz. “Typing on the computer felt like wading through molasses.”
Riverbend Academy is known for its close-knit community, where a tradition exists for faculty and students to rally around each other during college acceptance announcements, often sharing their joy on social media. In Thompson’s video, you can practically feel the room vibrate with excitement as he discovers he’s been accepted to Cornell.
“What’s not shown is me ugly crying,” he admitted. “As soon as I saw my family, I completely lost it. I reflected on my life’s journey over the past 17 years, all the challenges I faced.”
Thompson emphasized that while the triumph is sweet, the road to success was anything but easy. “People see the positive outcome, but I want to stress that it was hard-earned. Nothing worth having comes without struggle,” he noted.
Even in the midst of his joyful news, Thompson recognized that his school community would have supported him regardless of the outcome. “Whether it’s good, bad, or somewhere in between, we stand together. That sense of family is fundamental here,” he said. “If I hadn’t gotten in, they would’ve been right there with me.”
With plans to attend Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences this fall, Thompson aspires to become a veterinarian. He credits his drive to succeed to his family. “If I’m not motivated for myself, I’m definitely motivated for my mom. Not succeeding feels like letting her down, and that’s a huge motivator for me,” he explained.
Thompson hopes his acceptance video resonates with other students, inspiring them to pursue their aspirations, regardless of their backgrounds. “Coming from where I come from, I didn’t see a lot of role models heading to college. I want my story to show that education can lead you anywhere,” he said.
As we cheer on Thompson for his upcoming journey, you can bet we’ll be replaying that heartwarming video all day long. For more insights on navigating the path to parenthood, check out our other blog posts, like this one on home insemination kits and the science behind in vitro fertilisation.
In summary, this uplifting story of Alex Thompson’s acceptance into Cornell highlights the power of community support, resilience, and the importance of education in achieving one’s dreams.