Khalil Bridges Strives to Shine in West Baltimore

BALTIMORE, MD JUNE 2: Residents can be seen among blowing laundry at McCulloh Homes near Renaissance Academy High School on Thursday, June 2, 2016, in Baltimore, MD. Khalil Bridges is an 18-year-old senior at one of Baltimores poorest and most violent high schools. Renaissance Academy is located in West Baltimore virtually next door to McCullough Homes and not far from where riots exploded a year ago. During a three month stretch, three Renaissance students were killed, including a 17-year-old named Ananias Jolley who was stabbed inside the school. Jolley's murder has been turned into a mantra of sorts that's been put on t-shirts for every student: "Graduate for Jolley." Tributes to him can be seen all over the school. Amid the violence the school has endured, there are adults at Renaissance Academy trying to save teens and they consider Khalil Bridges one of their most promising proteges. Two years ago, Bridges was dealing drugs and wouldnt let adults touch him let alone guide him. Now, he has a mentor he talks to daily and a network of adults who have pushed him to given speeches in front of state lawmakers and write op-eds for the newspaper. Recently, they helped him buy a suit for a visit to the White House. Though his father is out of the picture and his mother is seriously ill, he is hoping to go to community college and make something of his life. But it wont be easy, even with the help hes being given. Hes very representative of the forces arrayed against young black men in Baltimore, which one study describes as the worst place in the country for African American boys to grow up in terms of social mobility. (Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images)