Former Garbage Collector Set to Graduate From Harvard Law School This Year

After years of working as a garbage collector, Rehan Staton, a 27-year-old man from Maryland, is set to graduate from Harvard Law School this year, and his remarkable story has earned him national recognition. He recently co-founded The Reciprocity Effect, a non-profit that aims to give back to other support staff.

Staton faced financial and emotional struggles when his mother left his family, and he was not accepted into any college. To support his family, he got a job at Bates Trucking & Trash Removal, where his father and older brother also worked. He didn’t initially consider pursuing higher education, but with encouragement from his colleagues, he enrolled at Bowie State University and later transferred to the University of Maryland, College Park, where he majored in history.

Despite taking out loans, he continued working as a janitor to pay for his education. Through his job, he heard stories from his co-workers who had been formerly incarcerated. This led him to think about the law and the justice system and the possibility of attending law school.

Staton was accepted into Harvard, and his exceptional story made national headlines. Media mogul Tyler Perry personally called him and offered to pay for his law school education.

Since starting law school, Staton has made his mark in the field. He co-founded The Reciprocity Effect, a non-profit that helps raise funds and provide financial relief to those who work in janitorial services. The organization is currently partnered with Harvard, and Staton hopes to expand to more schools in the future.