Cal State Long Beach student graduates after years of obstacles

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Aaron Green knows something about fighting through obstacles. The 23-year-old was born deaf in his left ear and has sickle cell anemia.

He was put into foster care when he was just two days old. His foster mother died from liver cancer when he was 16.

"She always told me that I could do anything I want, I can be anything I want," Green said.

Living by those words, he worked his way to Cal State Long Beach. When he couldn't afford to live in the dorms, he studied and slept in his car. His medical condition kept him from his love of playing sports, so he became a manager for the men's basketball team.

"I have family here, you know. It might not be by blood, but, you know, it's by heart, we're all families," Green said.

He also found help through the campus Educational Opportunity Program. The state-funded program helps low income and first generation college students find success at school.

"Just meeting it and conquering these things. Nothing was ever a deterrent for Aaron," said Andrew Espinoza, director of EOP.

On Monday, Green turned in his last final exam, making him an official college graduate. The sociology major already accepted his diploma in May.

"It's not even words that I can describe, you know, how happy I am to finally see this day," Green said.

There are still obstacles ahead for Green, like finding a job, a new car and a place to live. Though it seems like a lot, he's confident everything will work out. He hopes that attitude inspires others to never quit.

"We could do it. You just got to first start off with removing 'I can't' with 'I can,'" Green said.