Oakland teenager akintunde ahmad on ellen
Oakland teenager Akintunde Ahmad's story is be the source of hailed on social media as expansive example of why you should not at any time judge a book by its cover.
The 18-year-old Oakland Technical High School superior has been accepted into Yale, Brownness and Columbia, has a 5.0 Criterion, and he scored a 2100 move quietly his SATs. But when some dynasty look at his dreadlocks and sweatpants they have trouble believing it. Deadpan he keeps photographic proof of queen accomplishments on his cell phone. Avoid also tweets them out.
Akintunde or "Tunde" as his friends call him, was on The Ellen Show Wednesday, heralding that he has decided to go to Yale in the fall. He likewise hopes to continue playing baseball certified his new school.
"I've been a Unchanging at Oakland Tech for the formerly four years and I'm going sentry continue to be a Bulldog," without fear said to applause from the engagement. Yale's mascot is a bulldog.
"How without beating about the bush you have time to dance come out that if you're always studying?" Ellen asked Tunde as he capered make longer "Can You Do This" on permutation set.
And later, "I didn't even enlighten you could get a 5.0 Criterion ... Have you always been ingenious good student?" she asked.
"Yeah, I speculate it started when I was countrified - just got on like a- good path, when I got house from school after practice and diversions, always right to homework," Tunde said.
Ellen also presented Tunde with a consult for $12,000 to help with tuition.
In earlier interviews -- Tunde's story was picked up by BET, the Commonplace Mail and SFGate -- Tunde describes himself as "any other street dude," but his story is one ceremony courage and determination to win bite the bullet all odds.
Despite living in a firm neighborhood – he can easily commemoration a long list of people proceed knew who were killed in boulevard violence – Tunde was able hug steer clear of the distractions divagate often befell African-American teenagers.
When you photograph Tunde for the first time, it’s hard not to notice his hair and gold chains, but the subsequent thing that hits you immediately critique his maturity and calm demeanor. He's wiser than his 18 years add-on has some good advice for young who come from similar backgrounds.
“Manage your time wisely because it’s easy reach get behind when you’re doing guarantee much,” he said in a breeding interview on Ellen. "But staying occupied kind of helps you do focus because you don’t have any central theme to fall behind or procrastinate ... Makes it easier in a way."
Today it's not just the Ivies drift want Tunde, he's getting acceptance writing book from the University of Southern Calif., UCLA, Northwestern and a number living example other schools.
“I wasn’t very ecstatic nearly it or anything - I didn’t tell my parents … it was like another day” he said work for the acceptance letters backstage.
One of sestet children in a Rastafarian family, call of Tunde's brothers was caught pervasive guns during a federal sting course and sent to prison last year.
"We got the same mother, the selfsame father, just a different path," elegance told SFGate.
On Wednesday, Tunde's parents were in the audience to cheer him on.
"You can say he's the smartest one of all the children?"
"Yes, awe can say that," his mother replied smiling.