Teen’s Hard Work After Graduation Inspires Thousands

While most graduates were celebrating, 18-year-old Mykale Baker went straight from his high school graduation at Mill Creek High in Georgia to work a shift at Burger King—still wearing his gown and medals.

Maria Mendoza, the mother of a fellow graduate, saw him working at the drive-thru around 10 PM and was moved by his dedication. She recorded a short TikTok video titled “Determination Looks Like This”, which quickly went viral with over 3.9 million views.

Inspired by his humility and work ethic, Mendoza launched a GoFundMe to support Baker’s college dreams. The fundraiser quickly grew, raising over $115,000 by the end of May.

Baker, who had considered taking a gap year due to financial struggles, was overwhelmed when Mendoza returned to show him the donations. Fighting back tears, he shared that he could now go straight to technical college to study mechanics. “I never thought this would happen to me. I’m very thankful,” he said. Mykale’s story is a powerful reminder that hard work, humility, and perseverance don’t go unnoticed. Congratulations, Mykale!