Moore Teenager Takes Inspiring Journey To Graduating High School

Ijahi Jackson walked more than an hour and a half to work until a local police officer gave him a bike.

Related Story: Moore Police Sergeant Surprises Teen With New Bicycle

Jackson is now graduating high school after taking an inspiring journey.

This young man's journey to graduation was far from easy and it started with a love for music.

"I love it. It hit me, the love of the class, the beautifulness of the music and it's a family in this choir room," Jackson said.

Ijahi Jackson is your regular high school senior and now graduate. He was one of the leads in his school’s play Guys And Dolls, he loves choir, works part time and is overall a great student.

He is now making the transition into adulthood and heading to college.

"I don't think it is going to settle until August 1st, when I step into the college and walk into my first college room, that I am finished and I am an adult now," says Jackson.

Except unlike most kids, he is kind of already an adult.

"At my fresh 18 age, I was given an ultimatum, either to go to job core and do something that I am totally against or move out, so I made that decision to take that leap of faith and move out on my own," said Jackson.

So he followed the song in his heart and found himself on his own.

"I pay my own bills, filing my own taxes and doing all of this adulting stuff and it has been real, and it has been a great experience," he said.

Ijahi is one of 22 graduating seniors at Moore High School experiencing homelessness.

The district serves more than 100 students in a situation that classifies as homelessness. Amanda Robinson is the Moore Public School’s Mckinney-Vento liaison, one of the sponsors that helps students.

She and a few others have played a huge role in making graduation possible for Ijahi. They drive him to and from events and give him all the support they can. 

"We are just so excited that we had this program to help him stay in high school. He has made a mark on Moore High School," said Robinson.

He brings joy to those around him and even though he has a lot on his plate, he encourages his peers daily.

He has a poem that he says to his classmates daily.

"Today is a great day. Today is a great day to have a great day and today I will live, I will laugh, I will love and I will live life to the best of my abilities forever and always," Jackson says in the poem.

A reminder that when you hit the right note, eventually you will find your song.

The next step for Ijahi is to go to college and get a degree in music education.