Class Acts

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Ijahi Jackson Overcomes Homelessness to Graduate

CLASS ACTS

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Ijahi (pronounced EYE-juh) Jackson admits the odds were stacked against him finishing high school when he received an ultimatum from his family.

“I was told that I either had to go to the Job Corps or move out and live independently,” said Jackson. “The Job Corps was not my passion, so I chose to move out.”

With no place to call home, Jackson turned to Bridges of Norman, an organization that provides shelter and support for homeless teens in the area. It’s a group the Moore Public Schools Foundation is partnering with to aid homeless teens in Moore. Jackson says Bridges gave him exactly what he needed to keep going.

“They gave me a place to stay and transportation,” said Jackson. “And, they have this life skills meeting where they just teach us how to be an adult and do things on your own independently.”

That includes basic skills like money management, networking skills, leadership, and how to interview for jobs. Bridges also provides mentors to help students tackle all of the difficult challenges they face. Jackson says the best advice he can give any high school student is to find someone to be that kind of mentor.

“Find you somebody that will listen to you,” said Jackson. “I was lucky enough to have that. Find somebody that loves you and care because there's people out there that will. And just hold on. All of this you’re going through only is only temporary.”

Now that he has earned his high school diploma, Jackson has set his sights on the next goal: a college education and a career as a teacher.

“I plan on majoring in music education with a minor in psychology,” said Jackson. “My passion is to become a choir teacher because it all starts in the classroom. I want to help teach the younger generation to live life and love through music instead of gun violence.”

Jackson hopes his story will serve to inspire so many students who are facing all kinds of obstacles in their lives. He believes that moment when they get their high school diploma will be the kind of thing that with, help and support, they can get through almost anything.

“It didn’t really hit me at the moment I walked across the stage and got my diploma,” said Jackson, “But it’s starting to sink in for me. I’ve always loved school and it feels good to know that I’ve finished one chapter and am ready to move on to the next.”