A couple of days ago images of Corey Patrick, an Alabama teenager, circulated the internet after it was posted to social media. The images were posted by bus driver DeJuanna Beasley who shared them on her Facebook page, as an inspiration. CBS 42 picked up the story and got a deeper dive into how Corey Patrick, who had moved right before his senior year of high school, 14 miles away, refused to miss out on his senior year with the kids he had grown up with from grade school.
"Every morning Corey would get up and catch the MAX transit bus to go to Tarrant High School," said Corey mother, Felicia White.
White lives in the West End area and this year her son began living with her. He didn't want to leave his friends at Tarrant High School, where he had been attending school.
"We didn't have any transportation," said White.
Corey said he woke up every day between 4 and 5 in the morning. He walked approximately 10 minutes to the bus stop for the 14 mile ride to Tarrant.
Well, Corey did it. He pulled it off; his mother has nothing but glowing things to say about her determined son and now a few more people know. One of the people who discovered Corey’s story was Birmingham radio host Rickey Smiley. The post, that went viral on May 22, reached Smiley, who reposted it, and was moved into action.
Shortly after Beasely's post went viral May 22, Smiley, who hosts a self-titled radio show, took notice, and gifted the teen with a car Friday at the 95.7 JAMZ studio.
"We did it!! We gave Corey Patrick a car of his own!!!!" Smiley wrote on Twitter, with a photo of Patrick and his new ride.
The recent grad has reportedly been offered a full scholarship to Jacksonville University, and told Smiley he wants to major in computer science.
A GoFundMe campaign was begun for Mr. Patrick with the goal of reaching $10,000. So far, it’s reached $21,385.
Corey Patrick did it. Well done, sir.