{"id":402,"date":"2023-09-11T18:29:04","date_gmt":"2023-09-11T18:29:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/storypress.site\/?p=402"},"modified":"2023-09-11T18:29:04","modified_gmt":"2023-09-11T18:29:04","slug":"teen-who-walked-6-miles-to-his-own-graduation-given-incredible-gift-by-nfl-player-and-others","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/storypress.site\/?p=402","title":{"rendered":"Teen who walked 6 miles to his own graduation given incredible gift by NFL player and others"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cIf you want something done, you got to go ahead and do it yourself,\u201d Xavier Jones said.<\/p>\n

Xavier Jones is 14 years old.
\nThe 8th grader hails from North St. Louis, Missouri. He and his six siblings live with their grandfather, where they have resided since their mother died a few years back.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

SOURCE:YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT \u2013 FOX 2 ST. LOUIS<\/p>\n

Needless to say, life hasn\u2019t been easy.
\nAnd yet, Xavier has pushed on and persevered through every challenge thrown his way, and this year he graduated from Yeatman Middle School.<\/p>\n

What an accomplishment!<\/p>\n

The ceremony was set to take place at Harris-Stowe State University in midtown St. Louis.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s about 6.5 miles away from his home.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s where the problem starts.
\nXavier\u2019s grandfather has a car but it had died. There was no alternative transportation available at that time as well.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

SOURCE:YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT \u2013 FOX 2 ST. LOUIS<\/p>\n

Xavier could only do the one thing he could think of that was possible. He walked for two and a half hours to the graduation ceremony venue.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe did what he had to do,\u201d his mentor, Darren Seals, said. \u201cThe shoes that he walked in had holes in the bottom, holes in the top. Two-and-a-half-hours walk. A long road, I wouldn\u2019t have walked it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He used the online map to learn the route and find a way that would make his goal achievable and walkable.<\/p>\n

Plus he asked his brother and a friend to join him on his literal graduation journey.<\/p>\n

They were glad to join Xavier.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to walk across the stage,\u201d Xavier shared. \u201cIf you want something done, you gotta go ahead and do it yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

SOURCE:YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT \u2013 FOX 2 ST. LOUIS<\/p>\n

Harris-Stowe President Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith found out about Xavier\u2019s walk to his graduation.<\/p>\n

She surprised him with a wonderful graduation gift: a four-year scholarship presented to him during the ceremony.<\/p>\n

Xavier was ecstatic!
\n\u201cI just led with my heart, and I followed my heart, and my heart said this is a kid that needs a scholarship,\u201d President Collins-Smith explained. \u201cMany of our students come with a story, and many of our students come with environmental barriers they have overcome or are currently overcoming.\u201d<\/p>\n

President Collins-Smith wasn\u2019t the only person touched by Xavier\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n

NFL Miami Dolphins star Terron Armstead heard Xavier\u2019s story.<\/p>\n

He also wanted to give back.
\n\u201cWe hear a story like Xavier. It\u2019s only right,\u201d Terron Armstead said. \u201cFollow Xavier\u2019s example. He\u2019s a leader whether he wants to be or not. His story is inspiring. It\u2019s motivating. That\u2019s what leaders do.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

SOURCE:YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT \u2013 FOX 2 ST. LOUIS<\/p>\n

During a celebrity basketball game in St. Louis, Armstead presented Xavier Jones and his family with gifts they won\u2019t forget.<\/p>\n

They gave Xavier\u2019s family a $40,000 minivan.
\nWith the help of Bommarito Automotive, his grandfather and the entire family can now get around.<\/p>\n

Plus the NFL players also gave Xavier a $5,000 Ryan Pritchard Electric Bike that he can use as a transportation alternative.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis means a whole lot,\u201d Xavier\u2019s grandfather, who was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia, responded.<\/p>\n

It was a decision that Xavier had to make that day.
\nFor many, it became a story of inspiration.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the rainbow, there\u2019s a pot of gold. I learned a lot from Xavier that day,\u201d President Collins Smith added.\u201d Even on your worst day, keep pressing forward.\u201d<\/p>\n