‘No way. No way!’ The heartwarming video captures the incredible reaction of a 17-year-old with cerebral palsy after finding out he’d gotten into Harvard – after ten years of dreaming of going to Ivy League school
- Connecticut’s Julie Myslenski captured the incredible moment her 17-year-old son Matthew learned he’d been accepted into Harvard
- He was born with cerebral palsy, which affects movement and muscle tone
- A video clip shows his reaction as he celebrates with his twin sister
- Matthew hopes to follow in his parents’ footsteps and pursue a career in medicine
Are you looking for a reason to celebrate? Well, this video might evoke that ‘woohoo’ feeling.
Connecticut’s Julie Myslenski captured the incredible moment when her 17-year-old son Matthew, who was born with cerebral palsy, learned he had been accepted to Harvard.
Her clip shows Matthew with his twin sister, Magdalena, as he checks in his application through the college’s online portal.
When they find that the application has been updated with an offer of acceptance on the table, the duo suddenly burst into shrieks and puzzled faces.
Connecticut’s Julie Myslenski captured the incredible moment when her 17-year-old son Matthew, who was born with cerebral palsy, learned he had been accepted into Harvard
‘No way, no way!’ Magdalena can be heard screaming while her brother looks on in disbelief.
Matthew had dreamed of going to Harvard since he was seven, so it took him a while to internalize the news.
The video clip of his priceless reaction was shared by his school, Woodstock Academy, on December 19, 2022 and has since garnered more than 800,000 views on TikTok.
The school captioned the video: “You guys make us so proud. Two wonderful people here! Pass the handkerchiefs, please.’
Matthew sits next to his twin sister, Magdalena, as he checks in his application through the college’s online portal. Your reactions say it all
Matthew’s teachers note that despite his cerebral palsy—a physical disability that impairs movement and muscle tone—it hasn’t stopped him from pursuing his goals.
Matthew’s advisor Valerie Champany said: “He can do anything and he does what he puts his mind to without questions or complaints.”
Meanwhile, Matthew added, “I don’t limit myself and I want to inspire others to don’t limit themselves either.”
The high schooler is expected to graduate in June before enrolling at Harvard for a biology major in the fall.
The high schooler is expected to graduate in June before enrolling at Harvard for a biology major in the fall
Matthew hopes to follow in his parents’ footsteps and build a career in medicine
He hopes to follow in his parents’ footsteps and build a career in medicine.
He concluded, “After taking AP (Advanced Placement) Biology, I knew I wanted to focus on a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) career.
‘I feel well prepared for college because of the challenging academic opportunities at Woodstock Academy and the amazing teachers who have encouraged my success.’
Thousands of social media users have wished Matthew well in his next chapter and thanked his family for sharing the video.
TikToker @Complex_Teen wrote after seeing the clip: “This is the most heartwarming and humiliating thing to watch. Congratulations and a big compliment also to the supporting sister!’
While creator @BillyHollinghurst mused, “This is great, everyone should be able to get into any college of their dreams, even with disabilities.”
The condition that is NOT stopping Matthew from following his dream: what is cerebral palsy and how does it affect sufferers?
Cerebral palsy is the name given to a number of conditions affecting movement and coordination that result from a problem with the brain that occurs before, during, or shortly after birth.
Symptoms are not usually evident immediately after a child is born, but usually become apparent after two or three years.
These include delays in reaching development milestones such as:
- not sit by eight months;
- not walk by 18 months;
- appear too stiff or too limp;
- tiptoe walking;
- weak arms or legs;
- fidgety, jerky, or clumsy movements;
- random, uncontrolled movements;
Difficulty speaking, swallowing, or seeing — along with learning difficulties — can also be symptoms.
Cerebral palsy symptoms can be caused by a number of things and are not necessarily indicative of the condition that can occur if a child’s brain does not develop normally in the womb or is damaged during or shortly after birth.
Causes include bleeding in the baby’s brain, reduced blood and oxygen supply, infections contracted by the mother during pregnancy, suffocation during a difficult birth, meningitis, or a serious head injury – although the exact cause is often unclear.
There is currently no cure, but physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and medication are commonly used for treatment.
Each person living with this condition is affected in different ways, but in general, most children survive to adulthood, and some can live for many decades.
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