Overcoming a childhood beset by civil war in East Africa and living on welfare in Chicago, the author grew up to attend Harvard on scholarship. Asgedom shares his experiences, insights, and five proven secrets that will help teens succeed in high school and beyond.

Read the remarkable true story of a young boy's journey from civil war in east Africa to a refugee camp in Sudan, to a childhood on welfare in an affluent American suburb, and eventually to a full-tuition scholarship at Harvard University.

Following his father's advice to "treat all people-even the most unsightly beetles-as though they were angels sent from heaven," Mawi overcomes the challenges of language barriers, cultural differences, racial prejudice, and financial disadvantage to build a fulfilling, successful life for himself in his new home.

Of Beetles and...

Drawing on Mawi's work with more than a million students, The Success GPA depicts nine key success strategies to help high school students from all backgrounds transform their academic, career, and life opportunities. Students learn about key leadership skills ranging from time management and service to public speaking and personality types, as the book goes beyond test prep and grades to reveal hidden drivers of opportunity. The Success GPA serves as a great tool for any educator hoping to build character and leadership in their students.