A Texas teenager, born in Galveston County Jail, is bound for Harvard after graduating high school summa cum laude and showing great potential. The 18-year-old from Montgomery County, Aurora Sky Castner, was among the top of her class at Conroe High School as she closed the chapter during the graduation ceremony last week.

The student is headed for a new adventure as she’s looking forward to attending Harvard Law School on a full scholarship—a goal she set back in elementary school. Since her mother was incarcerated, Sky grew up with her dad as a single parent; however, throughout the years since her childhood, she was supported by her mentor, Mona Hamby.

After graduating at the top of her class, Sky is bound for Harvard Law School in the fall

Image credits: ACADEMY FOR SCIENCE & HEALTH, CONROE ISD

Image credits: Daniel Hartwig

With hard work and support from her mentor, Mona Hamby, Sky reached the goal she had set years ago

Image credits: Facebook

Getting into Harvard was something Sky Castner had been dreaming about since she was in elementary school. And even though getting into an ivy league university is challenging at best, fueled by hard work and determination, the young woman excelled in academics was able to reach her dream. However, until that point, she had to conquer certain hardships in life.

Sky didn’t have an easy childhood, as she was raised in a single parent home and reportedly had to overcome poverty. Her mother was incarcerated in Galveston County Jail, where Castner was born and picked up by her father, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Growing up, Sky did have a guardian angel—a mentor named Mona Hamby, who was part of the CISD’s Project Mentor program. Connecting community members with Conroe Independent School District students, it led Mona to Sky, which became the start of a beautiful long-lasting companionship.

“I was given a paper about her. Her hero was Rosa Parks, her favorite food was tacos from Dairy Queen and she loved to read. I thought this sounds like a bright little girl,” Hamby told the Houston Chronicle. The mentor was there for Sky on all sorts of occasions, from getting glasses to touring the Harvard campus.

Image credits: Facebook

Image credits: Facebook

Sky was supported by her long-term mentor, Mona Hamby

Image credits: MCCFoundation TX

Image credits: MCCFoundation TX

Getting into Harvard takes more than just impeccable grades

According to Times Higher Education’s 2023 data, Harvard University ranks second out of nearly 1,800 universities across 104 countries. Considering such rankings, it’s no surprise that the competition is fierce and the admission process is no walk in the park either. LSD pointed out that out of 9,933 applicants last year (2022), only 685 were offered admission.

The prospect of getting into Harvard Law School is based on the candidate’s past accomplishments and future promise. As stated in the school’s standards of admission, the candidate should “demonstrate potential for success in law school through an exceptional undergraduate academic record, standardized test scores in the top percentiles, and substantial accomplishments in work or extracurricular activities”. It also pointed out that the assessment includes weighing intangible qualities such as a sense of leadership, ambition, ability to overcome adversity, high ideals, and concern for the welfare of others, among other things.

Sky Castner graduated as top three in Conroe High School’s class of 2023. She told the Houston Chronicle that, “There was something satisfying about having all As and having that accomplishment,” adding that grades meant a lot to her. Over the course of her years in school, Sky has won a drug awareness speech contest hosted by the Conroe Noon Lions Club, as well as taken part in The Academy for Health and Science Professions at Conroe High School.

All of her academic achievements, together with other significant accomplishments and personality traits led to the graduate being accepted into her dream school, where she will start a new exciting chapter of her life.

People were generous with kind and encouraging words for the graduate

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