I Was Teased for Being the Garbage Collector’s Son – But My Graduation Speech Left Everyone Speechless

I’m Liam, 18, and for as long as I can remember, my life has smelled like diesel, bleach, and garbage. My dad died in a construction accident when I was little, and my mom had to drop out of nursing school to support us. She became a sanitation worker, earning the nickname “the trash lady,” and I became “trash lady’s kid.”

School was brutal. Kids teased me, mocked my mom’s job, and I ate lunch alone every day. But at home, I never complained—my mom had enough to carry. I promised myself I’d make her sacrifices worth it.

With a library card, a used laptop, and stubborn determination, I threw myself into schoolwork. My math teacher, Mr. Anderson, became my mentor, encouraging me to apply to top engineering schools and guiding me through essays and scholarships. Slowly, my hard work paid off: by senior year, I had the highest GPA in my class and earned a full ride to one of the country’s top engineering programs.

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