Columbia (WLTX) -- This student is trying to save money for college, while also overcoming challenges that would overwhelm many adults.
Xienglai Foxworth, who friends call "Eli," looks like many other Richland Northeast seniors who are trying to save money for college.
"I just try to save whatever I can save, and spend as little as I can," he said.
The 18-year-old student's personal circumstances have been anything but typical.
"I didn't even really notice it at first, but it takes away from you being a child when you have to live by yourself and take care of yourself."
He added, "I'm really independent, there have been months I've been alone and taking care of myself."
For years, Foxworth has worked nearly 30 hours per week, gotten himself to high school each day and supported his terminally ill grandmother.
"We have to have someone at the house at all times to make sure she's alive and being able to take of."
Foxworth doesn't make excuses, he is gracious and appreciative of what he does have, according to social worker Abby Beckley.
"I am just truly amazed at the type of person he is and the adversities that he's had to overcome," she said.
She says he stays dedicated to his academic goals at school, trying not to let anybody down.
"He is very humble about everything and does not ask for help, we have to pretty much force him to take it."
He has worked hard to imrpove his grades each year of high school, overcoming tremendous stress in his personal life while doing so.
This semester, the senior has all As and one B. His work ethic, he claims, comes from his grandmother.
"She always taught me how to keep my word, be on my feet, think strong. I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for her."
As he applies for colleges, he is aware of how his lack of extracurricular activities might look on an application, but Foxworth believes in himself.
"There has basically been no challenge at my age that I've seen that I haven't been able to overcome," he said.
Foxworth wants to attend college to become an electrical engineer.
He said that at age 8, he helped to fix a hospital bed that his grandmother was using at home. Rats had chewed through the wires. Fixing the bed's wiring is what sparked his interest in the subject of electrical engineering.
He wants to build a generator that runs on plants and solar power.
His first choice of colleges is Georgia Tech.
2/25/2009 9:05:31 AM
