Sometimes it is possible to overcome all of the odds. Even when literally every card is stacked against you, with a little perseverance, luck, and help, you can succeed. That is the American dream, and sadly that is in short supply lately.
Eighteen-year-old Sky Castner, a graduate of Conroe High School in Texas, is making her community and family proud by overcoming the ultimate slow start in life and beginning preparations to attend Harvard Law. She is the living, breathing embodiment of hard work and persistence. She has overcome every obstacle in her life.
The 18-year-old was born in the Galveston County Jail while her mother was locked up. Despite the circumstances, she has succeeded. Since her mother was incarcerated, Castner’s father picked her up and took her home to be raised in his house, by him. In a time when the role of the father is often dismissed, Sky’s dad stepped up and made a difference.
Eighteen years later, the young woman graduated third in her class and a few months from now will attend Harvard University to study law. Sky had set her sights on college long ago, with an eye toward Harvard. She recently said via Breitbart:
“There was something satisfying about having all As and having that accomplishment. Grades just meant a lot to me,”
Sky felt a sense of pride and accomplishment from high achievement. Grades were important to her, and she wasn’t going to be denied. She did this all without a mother, but she did have strong female role models.
Castner has not spoken to her mother since she was a young teenager, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t have a strong female influence in her life to help her navigate being a teenage girl in Texas. Even though she had a loving father, young girls need female influence, and Sky had just that.
Her mentor, Mona Hamby and Sky connected over the fact neither of them grew up with a mother. Castner explained:
“Everything that Mona taught me was very valuable in the same way that everything that I went through before Mona was very valuable.”
It is key for young people to have role models. Teen girls and boys need an example of how to live life and get ahead. Thankfully Sky had just that.
Hamby, walked with her through many firsts as the years went by while other community leaders pitched in and helped the girl with things such as attending summer camps. Castner overcame with strong community support, a loving father, and a key mentor in Hamby, and was accepted to Harvard in December. Such an amazing achievement.
The community at large knows Sky, and have supported her and her community work for several years.
According to the president of the Conroe Noon Lions Club, Warner Phelps, members have known her since she was a child. In 2022, she won a drug awareness speech contest the group hosted, where she spoke on the fentanyl crisis plaguing the nation.
She was presented with a $2,000 scholarship, and Phelps said, “She earned it.”
Sky has also long been active in her school, involving herself with the Academy for Health and Science Professions at Conroe High School, which encouraged her to work hard toward her dreams and ultimately overcome all the obstacles she has been confronted with. It was a high mountain to climb, but with a solid support system in place, Sky climbed it.
Even social media has been positive for a change. One person wrote:
“A Texas girl’s inspiring journey reminds us that resilience knows no bounds. Congratulations on your remarkable achievement!”
In a time when it seems everyone wants to play the victim and simply have things given to them for free, we need people like Sky Castner to be the example so many young people, girls especially, need. Kudos to the young lady for overcoming all life threw at her and emerging victorious on the other side.
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