Lakota West High School graduate Ricardo Maxwell was recently featured in an article written by Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Michael D. Clark.
Here is a portion of the article:
The Lakota West High School graduate moved five times this school year alone, shuffled between family and friends. It’s been like that most of Maxwell’s nomadic life, brought on largely by his mother, who lives out-of-state, and a father, who until recently, was imprisoned much of Maxwell’s youth.
A few clothes, some donated school supplies and spare mattress on the floor made for his various “homes.” Meals were optional at times.
Despite the instability, Maxwell, 18, graduated this month with his classmates from one of the area’s top-rated high schools. While not at the top of his class academically, he has learned life lessons that he says will serve him well as he continues his learning in a community college.
He’s undecided on a career or when he’ll start college.
“I was always in somebody else’s home or somebody else’s space. It made me feel like a burden to everyone,” says the soft-spoken Maxwell. “I always knew I could be put out at any moment.”
“I’ve been doing this my whole life,” he says without a hint of self pity.
For the entire article, visit Cincinnati.com’s story titled “Lakota West grad moves on.”