Faced with inestimable hardships including being homeless and living in a shelter with his mother, Folsom always had one thing in mind – giving sense to his life.

Speaking to Action News Jax, Folsom observed that topping his class despite the setbacks “means a lot and gives me a sense of all I’ve done and all I have accomplished was worth it.”

Folsom and his mother reportedly struggled with homelessness since he was a kid and throughout his high school education.

According to the annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, in 2019, an estimated 568,000 Americans experienced homelessness, with African Americans making up about 40% of that total.

The outlet further reports that Folsom served as the class president for his grade for four years straight, from 9th grade to 12th grade.