A young man named Paul Lamar Hunter has successfully authored a book and set a record as the first-ever person to graduate from university in his family after going through a very poor upbringing as a child.
Paul Lamar grew up amid financial challenges and poverty but was able to overcome the odds. He authored a book about his personal triumph and overcoming and beating all the odds.
He mentioned that his parents worked, but they still struggled to improvise. They were poor and got food stamps from the market. He said according to Black News that his family ate simple food and used secondhand clothes.
Paul mentioned that sometimes they had no gas and used the oven for warmth adding that these hard times taught them to be humble and kind to others facing difficulties. He said the challenges of poverty became much more extreme when his brother died in a fire that destroyed the family home.
Paul said a year later, his father was killed in a car accident which made life extremely hard. He said his mother spent most of her time at the homeless shelter she operated, trying to keep food on the table.
He stated that the older children helped take care of the younger children, preparing meals, caring for the home, and helping with homework and they were able to survive and overcome.
He said he achieved his first success at the age of sixteen years old when he received his Driver’s License and a few years later, he graduated from Washington Park High School, United States.
Paul said after a couple of years out of high school and working at many jobs, he decided to attend Gateway Technical College where he studied Supervisory Management and graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree.
He said though he was happy, he still wanted more education, so he worked for Chrysler Engine Plant until it closed and moved operations to Mexico. He decided to attend Upper Iowa University and became the first of 21 siblings to graduate college with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.
He is now the first author in the Hunter family, with his book No Love, No Charity: The Success of the 19th Child. The book was written to complement the book about his mother: Love and Charity.
Paul also enjoys motivational speaking and has shared his inspirational story with youth in schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, and other public venues. He said his primary message is to remind others that they are capable of great things and to never give up no matter what.