Sep 2, 2009 6:24 pm US/Eastern
Community Helps S. Fla. Teen Live College Dream
DAVIE (CBS4) ―
CBS 4 is in the community, with a story about a teenager setting quite the example for everyone in South Florida. Jean-Luc Kreitner, 18, was raised in a single parent home and at times, they struggled to make it. The 18 year old is now on a path to success thanks to so many people who have given him what they can in order to help him live out his dream. Kreitner is off to college.
"I was excited my mind was blown," said Kreitner as he folded laundry in his room at his home in Davie where he lives with his mother and younger brother.
The young man graduated Thomas Aquinas with a 4.5 grade point average and a good attitude. The acceptance into Northwestern University means a lot to him.
"It means I worked pretty hard to get here. I am excited to start a new life in Illinois," said Kreitner. But his acceptance into college had him thinking about how he was going to pay for school and all the expenses that went along with living hundreds of miles away from home in a colder climate.
"I had to think about actually living in Chicago and the cold weather for months at a time," said Kreitner who only owns one sweater.
So along with his mom, now unemployed, the family received help from friends.
Kreitner's mom is a single parent of two young adults beginning their lives. She has sacrificed whatever she could over the years.
"Are you proud," asked
CBS4's Jorge Estevez. " Yes I am," said Magalie Kreitner, Jean-Luc's mother. But the family's pride never got in the way of getting or giving to others.
"Just don't be conformable where you are. You have to go and help other people," advised Magalie Kreitner to her boys throughout their lives.
It looked like mom's message had rubbed off on her older son, who can't wait to help others.
"You are not always going to have your best day. You are not always going to be blessed with things right away, so you should help other people. It's going to come back to you. It's Karma," said Jean-Luc Kreitner who has received help from people in the community.
Neighbors 4 Neighbors has donated some money to Jean-Luc Kreitner for incidentals once he is at Northwestern University. American Airlines has donated his trip home for the holidays. The Promenade at Coconut Creek has given him a $250 dollar gift certificate to buy some warm clothes for the Chicago winters.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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