“It was a shock at first. I didn’t expect it,” Matthew said. “I was overjoyed.”
A video of Matthew and his sister Magdalena yelling for joy and squeezing it went viral on social media. Magdalena repeatedly shouts “No way!”
“It was pure joy,” she said in an interview with The Washington Post. “I just had a lot of pride.”
“Even though I’m 45 minutes older,” she added, “I’ve always looked up to Matthew.”
Both teenage twins are seniors in high school. Woodstock Academy Private school in Woodstock, Connecticut. Once Matthew received approval, Magdalena sent the video to school staff, who shared it on her social media. video It has been played over 828,000 times on TikTok.
Holly Singleton, Vice Principal of Woodstock Academy, said, “We are so touched that so many people have heard and shared his story.” Harvard University was just the first of many significant achievements in his life.”
Matthew didn’t expect the news of his acceptance to spread around the world, but he said he was delighted with it.
“I’m glad people are seeing it,” Matthew told The Post. I would like to reinforce the belief that you will achieve what you want.
Matthew’s cerebral palsy It primarily affects his gait and muscle tone, he said, explaining that the disorder, the most common movement disorder among children, does not affect him mentally.
“I can still do a lot, but some things take eight times as long,” he says, adding that he walks around campus, drives, volunteers, and joins several school clubs. Added. He is also an Eagle Scout.
From the age of six, Matthew’s goal was to attend Harvard University. As a child, he was a frequent patient at Boston Children’s Hospital. Elementary Pediatrics Program at Harvard Medical School.
“I’ve always looked up to the doctors at the hospital. They’re great people,” said Matthew, who hopes to one day become a doctor. At that point, I wanted to be part of it.”
But he knew that getting there would not be easy.according to Admission Statistics for Class of 2026, just over 3% of applicants were admitted. The university did not respond to a request for comment from The Washington Post.
Sarah Zieczyk, head of the English and social studies department at Woodstock Academy and now Matthew’s international relations teacher, said the acceptance of her student made her cry.
“He’s unstoppable when he wants to achieve any goal,” she said, adding that Matthew is involved not only with the student union, but also with various extracurricular activities such as medical clubs and Model United Nations. to succeed. “
According to Dziedzic, he is also in the top 5% of students in his class.
“Harvard is lucky to have him,” she said. “He will do amazing things.”
Magdalena, who will enroll at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the fall, said her brother “always stays up late to do his homework” and “only got two A-minus in his high school career.”
As well as being smart, she said, “He just works hard.”
Matthew said his motivation was his hope that one day he would be accepted into Harvard.
“This is what I’ve been aiming for,” he said, adding that his next mission is to be accepted into medical school.
Matthew, who plans to major in biology and chemistry, said, “I want to help people.” I have.”
Until then, Matthew hopes his story will inspire others to reach their goals and overcome obstacles.
“No matter what you face in life, you can get through it all,” he said.
