A Texas girl named Aurora Sky Castner who was born in jail defied all odds after graduating at the top of her class and will be going to attend Harvard University in the fall.
Before eighteen years, Aurora opened her eyes for the first time in the Galvaston County Jail because her mother was imprisoned at that time. Her father picked her up from jail and kept her to himself, he raised her as a single parent as her mother was never played any role in her life.
“I was born in prison,” she started her application essay with this line.
Aurora worked with a professor at Boston University, who helped her write her application essay, and the Ivy League school accepted it by early action. Now her plan is to study law.
“He helped me to tell my story in the best way possible,” she shared with Houston Chronicle.
She also gave credit for her success to her mentor, Mona Hamby, Castner met her in the elementary school at Reeves Elementary School for the first time.
“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. I thought this sounds like a bright little girl,” Hamby told the Houston Chronicle. “I still have that paper today.”
“She told me: “I’ve been to jail.” I said: “No, that can’t be right,” the mentor added. “I knew that I can’t just go eat lunch with this kid once a week, she needed more.”
Aurora’s mentor Mona Hamby revealed that when she shared the story of her childhood with her and how much she missed her mum, there was a feeling inside her that forced her to think she couldn’t achieve her dreams as she was not like others who can do everything, Hamby started teaching her about school activities more than simple guidance. According to Hamby, Aurora needed a little more ‘personal moments and growth’ at that time.
According to the PEOPLE, “So Hamby helped Castner with things like picking out glasses and getting her first salon haircut, according to the outlet, while dentists, orthodontists and other community leaders helped Castner with her teeth and to enjoy important childhood experiences, such as summer camp,”
“It was a very different environment than I grew up in and that’s not a bad thing,” said Aurora. “Everything that Mona taught me was very valuable in the same way that everything that I went through before Mona was very valuable.”
In March 2022, Aurora went to Harvard University with Hamby and her husband Randy, that tour strengthened her love for her school and institute especially.
“After that trip, I saw her love for the school intensify,” Hamby told.“It was a very different environment than I grew up in and that’s not a bad thing,” Castner said to the Chronicle. “Everything that Mona taught me was very valuable in the same way that everything that I went through before Mona was very valuable.”
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