Local valedictorian's inspiring journey to the top
Central Florida high school student overcomes obstacles
FOX 35 Storm Team Meteorologist Kristin Giannas has the heartwarming and inspirational story.
APOPKA, Fla. - Georgetown, Rollins, and Northwestern are just a few of the top universities that sent Roggernsy Jacotin, 18, an acceptance letter.
Jacotin, the first black valedictorian at Wekiva High School, has chosen to attend the University of Florida in the fall. His path to the top was replete with challenges.
Jacotin immigrated from Haiti with his family in 2007.
His father was incarcerated shortly after, leaving his mother alone to raise Roggernsy and his younger sister.
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"It made me obtain responsibility early, so I had to be responsible both for my sister and my mother," Roggernsy said.
"While my father wasn't here, I had to really make sure the household was ok. My mom didn't speak very good English, so I had to speak for her. There were certain things my mom didn't understand, so I had to understand it myself," Roggernsy said.
His father turned his life around and would become one of Roggernsy's biggest role models.
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"He's taught me that taking the negative in any situation and being positive- if you're just going through a period of depression, or a low point, he's taught me to look at the positive and just take the positive with the negative and make the best out of it," Roggernsy said.
Roggernsy graduated with a 5.4 GPA and started his own personal training business.
He will study sports medicine at UF.