CORAL GABLES, Fla. – While Sirena Harrell was in her second semester at Miami Dade College, her life was drastically changed after her son was shot and killed.
Her 15-year-old son, Isaiah Solomon, an innocent bystander, was caught in the crossfire while attending a wake for his 19-year-old cousin in August 2016.
Harrell buried her son and went back to class the following week.
"I know most people would think that I was crazy to continue with my education because that Saturday that I buried him, that following week I was back in school," she said.
Harrell graduated with highest honors and a 3.7 GPA. She wants pursue an English education and aspires to become a teacher one day.