Student's extra work propels 2010 grad

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - By all rights, TK Bryant should not have been here on this day, for, perhaps, the biggest "senior farewell day" ever at Kalamazoo Central High School -- preparing to get his diploma, preparing for college, preparing for a presidential commencement speech.

"It means a lot to me, because I proved to myself I could do it even though everyone was telling me I couldn't," the 18-year-old told 24 Hour News 8.

TK started life without a dad, raised by a teen-age mom in Greenville, Miss., who didn't make him go to school. Instead, he'd spend days at a time at home, during the school year, watching TV, longing to learn.

"I remember wanting to go. I enjoy education. I like to work hard, and I know that was a place that dreams come true."

He flunked first grade, then flunked second grade, fell two years behind, was teased by younger classmates.

"Flunker, stupid. Oh, you're so dumb. Why did you stay behind? But none of them knew my story."

Then, his grandmother got custody, moved him to Michigan, taught him that he could learn.

"He said, 'No, I can't learn.' I said, 'You can learn. There's nothing wrong with you. You just need someone to take time to teach you," said grandmother, Jacqueline Bailey.

First, she taught him to multiply.

"We started with 2s and 3s and on up, and he started seeing that he could actually learn, and then he got excited about math."

"There was no stopping him from there."

He skipped past sixth grade, straight to seventh. Then, last year, he told his Kalamazoo Central counselor he had a plan -- to catch up the rest of the way and graduate with his peers, to squeeze three years of high school into two.

"He knew he was, in his heart, he was the Class of 2010, and that's what he wanted to do, and he did it," said his counselor, Angelita Nivala.

TK took summer classes, night classes, courses at Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

On Monday, he'll be among 300 in the Class of 2010, listening to a commencement speech by President Obama.

"For him, it's icing on the cake," said Principal Von Washington. "Just like President Obama, himself, always says 'hope and change.' He (TK Bryant) represents that, pushing yourself, trying to get yourself to the next level."

There will also be another special guest on Monday -- TK's mom.

24 Hour News 8 and woodtv.com will provide complete coverage of President Obama's commencent speech to the Kalamazoo Central Class of 2010 on Monday.