Tupac Mosley is a name you should know.

The 17-year-old high school graduate was recently named valedictorian of his graduating class at Raleigh Egypt High School in Memphis after earning $3 million in scholarships. He was also accepted into over 40 colleges.

Mosley’s accomplishments are even more impressive considering he was homeless and dealing with the death of his father throughout the school year. He also managed to maintain a 4.3 GPA and received a 31 ACT score. Talk about defying all of the odds stacked against him.

While speaking to CNN recently, the proud teen referred to his achievements “an honor and a blessing.” At one point, Mosley revealed he lived in a tent but didn’t let that stop his initial goal of earning $1 million in scholarships to “do the best for [his] school.”

Eventually, the ambitious teen decided to “beat a million” after the offers began to flood in. “I actually did not know that I received $3 million until graduation,” he told the network.

Mosley plans to major in electrical engineering at Tennessee State University in September. In his interview with CNN, he thanked his family, friends, and school’s faculty for their “great support.” His older brother likely inspired him to achieve academic success, as he was valedictorian of his own graduating class.

The soon-to-be college freshman admitted he looks forward to the next chapter in his life. “As I’ve been worrying about finances and money for most of my life, to know that I can be doing something that I’m enjoying for my next four years and really … starting my career off is … refreshing and motivating,” he shared.

“I can do this with confidence, not having to worry about anything else,” he added. Keep reading to watch Mosley’s full interview and see why he is black excellence personified.