graduate more than a decade ago telling us what he feared about making it to today. >> what do you worry about growing up? >> that i don't want to die when i'm a teenager. >> reporter: and what is a happy future? why not go for the full out fairytale. >> paint my house gold. >> you would paint your house gold? >> then i'd paint myself gold. my parents, then my brother. >> reporter: we watched as he and his classmates fought to hold onto their confidence as they grew up in a neighborhood struggling with homelessness, hunger, violence. karim would go on to become the student council president, keeping up his grades even while he worked up to 40 hours a week at a sneaker store. >> hello, how you doing today sir? >> reporter: and what about alicia? luminous and working so hard at school. while taking care of her diabetic grandmother. >> one song? >> mm-hmm. >> okay. ♪ this little light of mine i'm going to let it shine ♪