<p>I find this posting a bit offensive. First of all, the assistance that the Londons provided in terms or writing her essays was not in editing, but was in providing an environment in which Khadijah <em>could</em> write. Apparently, you’ve not tried to write your college essays in a shelter, where lights must be off by 10, where you may or may not have wireless or any internet access, where the noise is mind-numbing, where Khadijah snuck out into the halls and bathrooms after hours to sit on the floor and write.</p>
<p>As for not returning home for Thanksgiving or Christmas, even a full Harvard scholarship does not allow for that many trips home and Khadijah can’t pay for it herself, so she’ll probably spend Thanksgiving at least with friends in Boston/Cambridge and get back to Cali for Christmas (although she is homeless, where will she stay?). She is hardly turning her back on her sister, but is not qualified to be her guardian. How many 18 year olds with just a high school education are prepared to raise an 11 year old alone? Where would she live, in Khadijah’s dorm room? Khadijah is doing what needs to be done, getting a Harvard degree to break the cycle of poverty for her family.</p>