Life Lessons| Inspiration

Born in Prison, Now She Is off to Harvard

The inspiring journey of Sky Castner

“I was born in prison.” This was the opening statement for an essay received by Harvard and it was from Sky Castner.

Sky Castner was born in the Galveston County Jail while her mother was incarcerated.

And when you think her beginnings would stop Sky from living a life different from that of her mom, she proved everyone wrong.

Her mom didn't play a role in her life, but the community did. As soon as her father took her away from prison, he raised her as a single father.

Although they moved around, it had always been within Montgomery Country.

It is where Sky met Mona Hamby, her mentor.

They shared a bond. Both of them experienced life without having a mother. Sky had only spoken to her birth mother once when she was 14.

A testament to the unconventional family that she grew up in.

Academic achievements

Sky’s academic journey is nothing short of impressive.

She graduated №3 in Conroe High’s class of 2023. A competitive student, she put a lot of hard work to improve her grades and challenged herself to attain every academic achievement she has under her belt.

Mona Hamby said in an interview,

“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 said. “I still have that paper today.”

And when Sky first mentioned to her that she’s been to jail.

Mona Hamby knew she needed to do more.

She spent time with Sky, just doing with her what a mom would do for her daughter. Later in the story, she even went with Sky to Harvard.

But Sky did her part. Her love for reading was nurtured at Reaves Elementary School. She was later accepted to The Academy for Health and Science Professions at Conroe High School, where she further worked on her doing well with her studies.

Before she graduated, she won a drug awareness speech contest hosted by the Conroe Noon Lions Club and they gave her a $2,000 scholarship fund.

The Future

The future looks bright for Sky.

She asked help from James Wallace, a professor at Boston University, to prepare her Harvard application.

“He helped me to tell my story in the best way possible,” she said.

After Sky visited Harvard together with Mona and her husband. She made her decision that Harvard will be her school.

She also wants to study law.

Final words

Sky Castner’s story shows that one’s past doesn't define the future.

It’s not for Sky, and it’s not for you.

Born in jail and raised by a single father could have made Sky a lost child. She faced insurmountable challenges as a child. But she didn't let any of her circumstances define her.

Instead, she used them to help her become stronger. Her goal was to live a life she dreamed for herself.

Sky said, “Everything that Mona taught me was very valuable in the same way that everything that I went through before Mona was very valuable.”

Mona saw how Sky fell in love with the campus when they visited Harvard for the first time.

It brought her back to the times she helped Sky by being with her when she was getting her first glasses and salon haircut.

J.K. Rowling once said, “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

Sky’s choices, driven by her determination and resilience, have led her from a jail cell to the prestigious halls of Harvard.

Thank you for reading.