Man who received college degree while incarcerated accepted into law school [View all]

Benard McKinley is going to one of the most prestigious law schools in the United States, just four months after he became a free man.

At 16, McKinley was arrested for a gang-related murder, and at 19 years old was sentenced to 100 years in prison. As he was being taken to a maximum security prison to serve his sentence, he made himself a promise.

"I promised myself before I got out of that bus that no matter what the outcome was that, you know, I was just going to try to do better for myself," McKinley, who said he takes full responsibility the mistakes he made at 16, told ABC News. "I knew that I wanted to better myself, and I did that."

McKinley will join the Northwestern Law School class of 2027 when he starts law school this fall at 39 years old

After seeing the financial stress that legal fees were placing on his family, McKinley decided to learn the law and represented himself pro se after obtaining his General Educational Development diploma, or GED, while incarcerated. He also helped those who lacked access or resources to legal aid.

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Living/man-received-college-degree-incarcerated-accepted-law-school/story?id=109254387

Kudos to him! More incarcerated people could do similar if given the chance.