YPSILANTI, Mich. – When 22-year-old Daivon Reeder was preparing to enter college, his stepfather told him there was no point to go to orientation because he wasn’t going to graduate.
Reeder turned those words into a motivator.
In a tweet that went viral, he posted about how now, four years later, he is graduating while his stepfather is in prison.
Reeder, the oldest child of four, said he moved around a lot growing up and watched his mother struggle to provide for the family. While his stepfather was around, he didn’t see him as a positive role model.
“Stuff happens to you. You can run left or right,” Reeder said. “I ran right in a positive way.”
He said the tweet wasn’t meant to bash his stepfather, but that the negative words inspired him, even after he lost his academic scholarship.
Reeder graduated Saturday from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in criminal justice and a minor in military science.
My step dad told me it was pointless to go to orientation, I wasn't going to graduate.....4 years later he in jail & I'm well.... 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/bLftj8BXni
— KING 👑 (@daivonreeder) April 20, 2017