Sanitation Worker's Life Is Changed With Acceptance Into Harvard Law School

May 05, 2022 by apost team

Rehan Staton, a former Maryland sanitation worker, made headlines in June 2020 after receiving an acceptance letter from Havard Law. But that wasn't the only prestigious law school the 24-year-old was accepted into. Along with his offer from Havard Law, Staton received offer letters to attend law schools at Columbia, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), University of Southern California (USC), and Pepperdine. In addition, four out of the five schools Station received acceptance letters from made the Forbes list of the top 20 law schools in the country. Furthermore, two of the school were ranked in the top five best law schools on the Forbes list.

Staton's road to success was not an easy one. When he was a child, his mother abandoned him and his brother, Reggie. At times, their father worked three jobs to care for the boys. Although his father did everything he could to support their family, it wasn't always enough. Staton's father struggled to care for his sons. Throughout his childhood, Staton recalled that his family went without heat in the winter. Often he would go to school hungry and tired from his living situation. The young station found no solace or support in his teachers. One teacher went as far as to suggest he suffered from a learning disability due to his poor performance. It wasn't until Stanton got older that he developed a support system that helped him beat the odds.

In an interview with Harvard Law Today, Staton recalled how the harsh living conditions he dealt with at home negatively affected his performance in school. 

"One night in seventh grade, I remember you could see your breath in my own house," he told Harvard Law Today. "I was wearing a jacket, but I didn't get a lot of sleep, and I was hungry." The following morning, Staton failed his History test, which led his teacher to suggest that Staton had a learning disability.

According to CBS News, Staton worked hard to improve his grades. That same year, he achieved honor roll. Then, in high school, Staton's focus shifted to martial arts. But Staton's athlete aspirations were short-lived. The Maryland native injured both of his shoulders while practicing martial arts. Staton told Capital Gazette he didn't have healthcare and could not receive proper treatment for his injuries. 

As Staton's potential to play sports dwindled, so did his possibility of getting a college athletic scholarship. Left with few options, Staton began to work at Bates Trucking & Trash Removal, a decision that altered his life.

Staton told CBS News that his coworkers "uplifted" him. Staton's coworkers encouraged him to enroll in Bowie State University in 2014. From there, Staton transferred to the University of Maryland in 2016. While attending the University of Maryland, he decided to go to law school. Staton applied to nine law schools and got accepted into five. Ultimately, he decided to commit to Harvard Law. Although Staton's future is looking bright, he told  CBS News that having a support system helped him reach his dreams.

"Because as much as you're investing into yourself, you have others investing into you too. And you got to make sure that investment is good, as long as it's genuine," he said. 

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