18-year-old Chicago resident, Kymera Mitchell, was diagnosed with autism and PTSD at age 6. 12-years later, she has successfully graduated high school with honors and has been accepted into 19 colleges with 8 full-ride scholarships.
“I wouldn’t let anyone who doesn’t have a disability try and stop me from what I’m doing,” Kymera told CBS.
Aside from her educational feats, Kymera received more than $500,000 in scholarships and financial aid. Her victory brought relief to her mother, Kalaveeta Mitchell. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,’ she has this amount of money and she has full rides to some of these schools. All of the agony, it just left me,” she said.
Some of the schools Kymera was accepted into include Howard University, Tuskegee University, De Paul University of Illinois Chicago, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
The 18-year-old graduated from Alcott College Prep High School in May with a 4.0 GPA. She has also received more than 30 Special Olympics awards from local and state games, where she participated in track and field, and shot-put, as well as bocce and floor hockey, according to Good Morning America.
Kymera told GMA, “I kept pushing myself [through] the challenges that would be thrown at me. I feel proud of myself.” She also added that she received support and motivation from some of her teachers.
Kalaveeta, Kymera’s mother, explained that her child didn’t always receive backing from the school system. She had to advocate for her daughter to receive the same education as students without disabilities. She also shared that it was hard to get people to see her daughter as a person and not just someone with a disability.
Kalaveeta is against the mindset that people with disabilities cannot measure up to people without disabilities. According to her, she has always been aware of her daughter’s greatness, although it was difficult for others to accept it.
The 18-year-old plans to study fine arts to fulfill her dream of becoming a graphic designer. She imagines herself making her own characters for comics or web series.
Kymera is yet to disclose which college she plans to attend, and plans to have a graduation party later this week, to make her choice known.
She advised other students with disabilities who are also on their path to college to focus on their “studies [and] ignore negative energy from people.”
