As one of five children being raised by a single mother, Jonathan Pierre, a 2023 graduate of East River High School in Orlando, Fla., has faced and overcome numerous challenges throughout his life, primarily homelessness.

His family’s unstable living situation required frequent moves, which caused him to attend four elementary schools, two middle schools and four high schools. Pierre never lived in a house more than one year, often staying at homeless shelters and even sleeping in the park.

When he was in the ninth grade, he and his siblings were removed from his mother's care by Child Protective Services and lived in foster care. Eventually, the judge gave Pierre’s older brother custody so that he and his siblings could stay together.

Through all his tribulations, Pierre kept his academics at the forefront of his priorities and excelled in Pre-IB, Cambridge AICE, Advanced Placement, and dual enrollment courses. He was a member of his school’s National Honor Society and robotics team and did this while working full-time and completing more than 500 hours of community service.

His hard work paid off, and he is headed to Columbia University in New York City to pursue a career in aerospace engineering, making him the first in his family to attend college. Pierre was selected as a 2023 Questbridge Scholar, which comes with a four-year scholarship. 

“I will persist until I succeed” is a quote Pierre lives by and one he repeats often when faced with challenges and difficulties.

“Just persist, be determined, and work hard,” said Pierre in a video that was made about him as  part of the Orange County Public School District’s #OCPSGrads social media campaign.

“Put in the time and effort and your dreams will come true.”