Because Of Them We Can
https://www.becauseofthemwecan.com/
By BOTWC Staff
Nehemiah Juniel has always been an avid learner as he was reading and writing by the age of two and doing pre-algebra by the age of five. At 13, he received his associate of arts degree from Lone Star College. Now, he’s set to make history in August when he receives his bachelor’s degree in health sciences from Sam Houston State University, becoming the youngest student to ever graduate from the school.
The exceptional teen has had dreams of becoming a surgeon since the age of eight, later deciding to pursue a career as a cardiologist. With plans to start studying for the MCAT soon, Nehemiah is well on his way to making his dream a reality.
He grew up in a homeschool household, where his parents Corie and Raphael cultivated his gift and taught all six of their children to never give up. It’s clear that excellence runs in the family as Nehemiah’s 19-year-old sister, Gabrielle, is set to graduate early from SHSU in the fall.
“‘Can’t,’ was like a curse word in our house,” Raphael explained. “That came from my grandfather.”
It takes a village and the Juniel family has a strong one, choosing SHSU due to the great support they received from the university with Nehemiah’s financial aid package. As a veteran, his father Raphael was able to lean on the Veterans Resource Program for assistance. What made the 13-year-old’s college experience even better was the professors and teaching assistants, Nehemiah calling them “the most positive aspect of [his] experience at SHSU.”
The future surgeon hopes his story inspires other young people to shoot for the stars and work towards their dreams. His message to others is, “Don’t get discouraged if you run into a few issues or if you fail a couple of times. As long as you keep trying, you will eventually reach your goal.”
Nehemiah’s mother says his next challenge is practicing his driving skills and securing a driver’s license, which we’re sure he’ll master in no time.
Congratulations and best of good luck on your future endeavors, Nehemiah!
