Grand Rapids — Barrett Vernon is not one to dwell on the negative.
He’s experienced housing insecurity, the loss of one parent and estrangement from the other, but the recent Innovation Central High School graduate has found a way to cast what he’s been through in a positive light.
“It pushed me to see what was important and what was in my control,” he said. “I think I’ve achieved more than I ever could if the situation hadn’t happened.”
Barrett is now safe after he and his brother escaped a troubled living situation and moved in with their aunt. And while his outlook may be optimistic, his road hasn’t been easy.
‘At this point, I know that because of what I’ve been through, I can do just about anything.’
— Innovation Central senior Barrett Vernon
Facing Instability, Crisis
A recent graduate of Innovation Central’s Hattie Beverly Academy of Teaching, Learning & Social Justice, Barrett has always been a stellar student. But midway through his high-school career, his life was upended by the declining mental health of his mother, a U.S. Army veteran struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and other issues.
Just a few years prior, Barrett’s father — also a veteran — was killed in an act of gun violence; he believes the loss exacerbated his mother’s condition, which continued to deteriorate until Barrett no longer felt that he was safe at home.
When Barrett decided he had to leave, he didn’t have any other permanent housing options.
“I was just sort of living at my friends’ houses,” he recalled. “I had almost nothing but the clothes on my back and my backpack that had my school computer.”
It was during this period of instability and crisis that high-school counselor Jeremy Bissett noticed something was off about Barrett during a school event. Bissett decided to intervene, and asked if something was wrong. Barrett said it was a turning point that helped him realize the degree to which the school supported him.
“I’m really glad I was truthful and didn’t put on a happy face,” Barrett said. “Being honest to my counselor … made all the difference.
“The school really banded together to work like a team to raise me, almost. Guidance counselors were always there to give me emotional support.”
Barrett’s aunt was a supportive figure as well. It took some time for him to feel comfortable reaching out to her for help, but once he did, she was eager to step in and begin the process of assuming legal guardianship of Barrett and his younger brother.
Once the brothers’ housing situation was sorted out, stability was restored in their lives and things became easier. But that didn’t mean the challenges were over. Barrett says his mother is still unwell, and he’s not even sure exactly where she is at the moment.
While he acknowledges that the situation hasn’t entirely been resolved, his characteristic optimism is untarnished as he looks ahead.
‘I can do just about anything’
In the fall, Barrett is heading to the University of Michigan, where he plans to study public policy with the aim of eventually going to law school.
“I really want to make a difference for people who are struggling to meet their basic needs,” he said. “I’d be interested in being an immigration lawyer, or being a lawyer for individuals who’ve been evicted from their houses.”
He said he wants to be an “agent of change in the community,” and he’s already well on his way. In the wake of his own challenges, Barrett has become increasingly community-minded, volunteering with area food pantries and Mel Trotter Ministries, and serving on Superintendent Leadriane Roby’s Scholar Advisory Council.
Barrett’s commitment to service helped him earn him a spot among U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten’s 2025 Congressional Medal of Merit recipients.
Innovation High Principal Derrick Martin said he sees nothing but more success in Barrett’s future.
“He’s an overall knockout, outstanding student who’s always willing to go above and beyond — very dedicated to his school and to his class,” Martin said. “(It’s) really been a joy to have him here over the last few years. I’ve been able to have the opportunity to watch him grow over the years into … a young leader, in this building and hopefully in our community.”
In spite of everything Barrett has dealt with, he still chooses to focus on the positive.
“Adversity and struggle — it makes things more possible. It makes chasing your dreams all the more rewarding,” Barrett said. “At this point, I know that because of what I’ve been through, I can do just about anything. …
“I can’t be stopped at this point.”
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