This man is living proof that a low GPA does not mean low intelligence.

His wife deserves some credit for sticking by him.

Low-key this feels like an ad for student loans.

U really need to try to get that gpa. Getting a 0.9 is harder than a 3.0

This guy probably just got up and spoke to the CEO of school

all it took was three people to believe in him: his wife, dad and Weber counseler

And I went from a 3.9 GPA in high school to a dead end minimum wage job. 😭

And nobody mentioned the fact that he looks like a middle class Patrick star?

Im still confused how a 0.9 gpa is even possible lol, he must of just skipped 90% of his classes. Good for him for getting his life back on track though.

"Took out as many loans as possible, Took out as many loans as possible, took out as many loans as possible"

Honestly the biggest thing I got out of this was “I don’t think you’re lazy, I just believe you need to be motivated all the time”

I had a 2.4 gpa in hs and wasn't going to go to college because of that. My mom dragged me to an open house at my local community college 3 years ago and I met a professor who quite literally changed my life. This professor motivated me to start applying myself in school, as he could tell I was regretful of not trying in hs. It is two years later now, and I'm sitting here typing this at Cornell University, and I only have to spend one and a half more years here to earn my bachelors degree. It's never too late to start trying.

I graduated high school with a 1.9 GPA. I had to complete online classes during my senior year in order to gain enough credits to graduate with my peers. Attending a top ranked university was always my dream growing up but I lost my academic self-confidence during my first years of high school. I played two sports and took as many honors classes as I could but juggling it all proved to be too much as I still wasn't getting the grades I thought I needed to attend a good school. After a downward spiral of depression and self-doubt, I just flat out gave up on my dream. I dropped out of school for almost a year and did next to nothing when I came back. I went to class but never paid attention and never did any of the assignments I was given. All I wanted was just to pass my classes (getting all D's) and get the hell out of high school. After I graduated I started attending my local community college, which I dreaded. Everyone had treated it like a joke while I was in high school. I thought it was humiliating. I hated seeing all my friends killing it in life and having a blast at their respective universities while I was stuck in my hometown living the same old life. But I began to enjoy the departure from the monotony of high school classes to a more bespoke college class schedule. I chose what classes I wanted to take and when and loved being in an environment where people actually wanted to learn. What I slowly realized was that community college was a fresh start, a second chance to succeed. I thought my high school failures would stick with me forever, but they didn't. My slate was wiped clean. After my first semester I regained confidence in myself and sparked my drive learn again. I buckled down and starting kicking ass in every class I took. Several semesters and lots of papers and exams later I began my transfer applications for a four-year university, and a few months after that I started hearing back from schools. I was accepted to every school I applied to except one and chose to attend UC Berkeley. Two years later I had finally reached my childhood dream of graduating from a top ranked university! I will forever and always be an advocate for community college after my experience! Although it wasn't nearly as exciting as life at a four-year institution (no frats, no campus life, no parties, no huge sporting events), it was exactly what I needed to flourish academically. The no frills environment meant that there was nothing else to focus on but my studies and my grades reflected that. My professors and counselors were all easy to reach and always happy to help. Several of them were even better at teaching than my professors at Berkeley! So basically, moral of the story is that anyone can attend a great university no matter what your academic background is. As long as you want it badly enough and are willing to put in the work and make the sacrifices to do so, it can be done. You don't need a 4.8 GPA in high school or an astronomically high SAT score. Just attend class everyday, study effectively, do every assignment to the best of your ability, and maybe get some extra-curriculars under belt and you'll be where you want to be in 2-3 years time.

You'd be suprised how many low GPA students in High school end up doing well in college

The moral: do the work to get the grades to graduate high school. Don't breed irresponsibly. Kids can wait, marriage can wait. Minimum wage jobs weren't designed to support family building. Kudos to his wife for handling the home front

*To anyone watching this video that hasn't graduated high school yet:* college academics are extremely different from high school academics. My GPA sucked in high school, but I did well in college because college was only around 2 hours of class per day. I had the energy to study. In HS, I never understood how they expected us to wake up at 6 AM, go to school until 3 PM, participate in an afterschool activity, study, AND maintain a good GPA.

Highschool was boring af, ended with around a 2.3 gpa Now I'm in college with around a 4.0 gpa. Its a whole different story when your actually interested in what your learning!

* This video exists * Me: *Don't give me hope*

This is so encouraging! I'm 44 yrs old & I just enrolled in Penn Foster High School.. I've passed 5 exams so far! I'm currently working 2 jobs & I still can't afford rent! I just feel like there's something more out there! I wanna get a certificate in Social Work..

Don't get me wrong, this guy is very impressive and I applaud his hard work for pulling himself through. But I feel like there's a missing part to the story? Harvard isn't going to automatically accept someone who graduated top of class from a mediocre university just because they dramatically increased their grades from high school. Graduating top of class is a minimum to get into Harvard, so there has to be some other outstanding factor that made them take the spot from another potential student. That doesn't make him any less deserving of his success but there has to be something else pulling the strings that had this happen.

Anyone else get this randomly recommended?

I had a 1.2 GPA in high school; went to summer school the 9th, 10th and 11th grade. Now I have an MBA and will probably attempt a doctorate degree in the future. You can't fail if you never quit!

$1200 a month in student loans, he's got to be making big money to do so.

I have harvard story, I mean the story isn't me it's my brother. He was extremely bad in highschool he got really mediocre grades all of high school. He was in a community college for awhile, however he just for some reason wanted to change. So he turned it around in college and eventually applied to harvard. He got accepted, graduated a couple years later and applied and got accepted to Oxford in England. He lives there now and is the president of the C.S lewis Foundation or something like that I forget what it's called I'm probably wrong however it just goes to show never give up. My brother is a mentor and teacher to me and you CAN change. You WILL change you just have to work hard and put the effort in and believe yourself and I know it sounds cheesy but trust me if my brother could have a transformation like that so can you. Anyone can.

In America, the reality of his gargantuan life-long debt makes this much less inspiring

This guy may be a professor in something but not personal finance.

I know this might be rare but this is really damn inspiring!

I love the fact that he turned out to be a wonderful loving father and husband especially starting at high school. ❤️❤️❤️

He is inspiring! Iam actually truly amazed on college students who graduate taking care of their children that is tough.

3:00 I figured out your money problem. Your wallet has a hole in the bottom

Damn this made me cry for some reason. Props to him for turning his life around. He seems like a really genuine dude

Good for him. That's an incredible amount of effort and change that he went through.

at the end of the day it boils down to your habits and how you live day to day

Such humble dude. Need an interview of his wife!

Graduated high school with a 0.9 gpa as a teen mom. Going back to school and I’m so excited. Life if a journey. Thank you for sharing.

I have a 1.5 gpa and now im in the marine corps im very happy with my life i have a wife and children, a boy and a girl. I am very proud.

was a great story until i saw him 180k in debt! He may have the prestige but hes getting nailed with that over his head.

Good for you man! More power to you!

This is the most inspiring story. It helps me push forward in my work as well.

Moral of the story: ACORNS

This man is giving me HOPE.

How one man went from a 0.9 GPA in Harvard to a high school lecturer

I'm very impressed. You can be anything you want to be. His story is highly inspirational.

Super inspirational story. Great stuff.

Honestly, this man really proves that it’s never over.

"I don't think you are lazy, you just need to be motivated" it's the same thing and this guy lectures at Harvard you say?

This would’ve been so much more meaningful if this wasn’t a sponsored message being pushed by acorns...

Love this and I relate. Not stupidity, lack of effort, not knowing what to do, nor is it laziness but finding your way. Hate the misperception we used to get.

If you're paying for your PhD, you're doing it wrong.

Inspiring story. Some of us from the UK have got life very easy and have thing silver spoonfed !!! Wow this made me grateful

I remember I interned for Harvard Graduate School of Education and he was there as a professor. Glad to see him here!

Way to go man... this is what should inspire people.

I thought he had down syndrome and I was like damn this dude is amazing. He doesn't, but still amazing

Respect. Don't give up on yourself - you can accomplish more than you think

This man is such an inspiration holy jisoos hats off to him and his wife for sticking it together through thick and thin! This is the relationship I want

this gives me so much hope

I got 0.94 GPA in university with 15Fs and can't graduate on time this year. Inspired by this video so it's time to take it mine. Remind me 5 years later and I'll tell my story.

Thank you for sharing your story with us, Todd. I'm pretty sure Warren Buffet's ears were ringing when you mentioned compound interest. I'm also grateful that you had a father who knew your worth and how you worked best and that you never stopped hustling. Congratulations to you and your whole family.

I have a 1.8 gpa this gives me so much hope and inspiration

I've been there. I dropped out of my s**thole of a high school after I failed every class under the sun in my senior year. Later, I got my GED and got rid of the baggage from high school. I then went on to graduate from college and law school. I've been a college professor for nearly 25 years and I teach tax and business law classes and I'm having the time of my life at my job. I'll also say that all the success I've been blessed to enjoy, with more to come, is a continuing kick to the groin of my old high school. It does get better. I'm living proof.

I had a 1.3 GPA freshman year and graduated with a 3.88 and honors, while working full time and going to school full time and in the national guard. It can be done, but you have to sacrifice so much most won’t even attempt it.

*kids who never go to class and smoke weed everyday watching intensely*

I did well in high school but even so this man is my hero

Yea I was a 3.4 in hs, but dual enrolled in a community college and got a 3.74 with 49 credit hours. Now im at a university and 4.0 all my classes this semester. Honestly hs was such a joke and im shocked how much harder it was than both a community college and a top university

so basically he got into the honors program for one class out of pity.

Imagine how different his story would be without student loans

This is inspired me so much .

I always get these random recommended videos a few days later than everyone else it seems like.

Moral of the story is: Don't stress to much while in highschool. If you don't do good you'll just have to work harder later, but that doesn't mean you won't go anywhere.

Just the title made me more optimistic

This shows it’s never really too late to put your life back on track

I am really happy you over come your barrier; very inspiring example.

Answer: money, lots and lots of money

Love this !!! All while going to school

YOU’RE SO AWESOME!💪🏻❤️

I had an avg. 0.677 gpa and still graduated and I’ve started my own LawnCare business and hope to continue to grow

In Germany: Do your Highschool at whaterver age you want, proceed to go to university with almost no costs, and definitely no loans.

114 dislikes are just salty that they didn't get the job at Harvard!

Quite an interesting story. Really touched.

This makes me so proud

.6 college gpa (freshman year) to director of accounting/CPA at major firm. ADHD diagnosis and treatment for PTSD does miracles for academic and professional performance.

I cant graduate math help

Awesome story, really resonates.

This guy gives hope to a lot of people.

“You’re not lazy. You just need to be motivated all the time.” Like wrapping a bow on shit

This teacher probably *never* says: your GPA determines your future like other teachers

My gpa is currently like around 3.1-3.4 and tbh parents don’t understand that the school system has changed and it’s dumb now that’s the only reason why it’s such a pain in the ass

This gives me hope in a hopeless world

Yeah because everyone tries their hardest in highschool

How is 0.9 even possible

Thank you!!

DUDE AMAZING MAN!!!

"you're not lazy, you just need to be motivated all the time" that hit hard

American Media: Look! There is one person who pulled themselves up by the bootstraps! Let's put their story everywhere. Reality: The American standard of living is dropping.

Similar story for me. I dropped out after my freshman year of college with a 1.3 GPA. I took some time off and came back and within the past 3 semesters I raised my GPA up to 3.0 while working full-time.

Oh man, I hope I can be as successful, I dropped out of highschool when I was 16, never was a good student because I never tried really, now at 19 I'm going back extremely motivated

0:30 cute wife.

Me: watches video and gets inspired to try my hardest in school Also me: Finishes homework during lunch and doesn’t work on the essay till the day before it’s due

Whoever is in Highschool or is close to it that is watching it, *DO NOT DO WHAT THIS MAN WENT THROUGH!* Is this day and age, it is crucial to achieve the highest amount of success that you can through school. So many top businesses require that you have a Highschool diploma and/or a Bachelor’s degree. I started out Highschool at a 2.4 GPA *with a learning disability.* After working my ass off for 4 years, I graduated Highschool with a 3.077 GPA. Ninety-Nine Percent of the people that do what this man did do not make the lengths that this man has taken. Be that one percent that makes it and gets their diploma. I believe in you all!

good for him to get supportive family