Teen Awarded $1.3M in Scholarships and Accepted into 21 Colleges Launches New Platform For Caregivers
A Childhood Shaped by Sacrifice
What happens when a child is forced to become the caregiver? For Omarion Calloway, it meant a childhood filled with responsibilities far beyond his years. It meant learning to care for others while navigating his own pain. It meant growing up faster than he should have—but never letting go of his dreams.
His story is not just one of survival; it’s a powerful testament to love, resilience, and a refusal to be overlooked.
From Hardship to Triumph: A Million-Dollar Future
In 2022, Omarion’s name made headlines when he was accepted into 21 colleges, earning over $1.3 million in scholarships. The world saw his bright smile and impressive achievements, but what they didn’t see was the struggle behind his success.
From a young age, Omarion was the backbone of his family. At just 10 years old, he became the primary caregiver for his uncle after a tragic accident left him paralyzed. His days were spent feeding, bathing, and comforting his uncle while also caring for his younger brother. As his grandmother battled cancer, he took care of her too, ensuring she was treated with dignity. Meanwhile, his mother worked multiple jobs to keep the family afloat, moving them between temporary homes in search of stability.
Despite these overwhelming challenges, Omarion never let his circumstances define him.
The Weight of an Unseen Struggle
While he gave his family everything he had, he often felt invisible to the world. He was seen not as a boy balancing school and caregiving, but as someone constantly misunderstood. The pressure to stay strong—especially as a young Black man—was immense.
“Caregiving wasn’t a burden—it was an act of love,” Omarion says. “But love doesn’t erase exhaustion, fear, or uncertainty.” I was taught that crying was weakness,” he admits. “I held everything in, but the weight of it nearly broke me.”
That weight finally came crashing down when his uncle passed away. For the first time in years, Omarion let himself grieve—not just for his uncle, but for all the silent pain he had carried.
Turning Pain into Purpose
In his darkest moments, writing became his refuge. “My notebook became a place where I could scream without fear and dream without limits,” he explains. Through writing, he began to process his trauma and imagine a future beyond survival.
By the time his story gained national attention, Omarion had endured more loss than most people experience in a lifetime. Both his uncle and grandmother had passed away, but their love and sacrifices fueled his determination to create change.
Now a junior at New York University studying film, Omarion is using his voice to uplift others. While interning at The Sherri Show, he had a chance encounter with actress Yara Shahidi—a moment that reaffirmed his path.
“I was struggling with imposter syndrome,” he confesses. “But Yara reminded me to trust in myself. She saw me in a way I hadn’t seen myself.”
Launching a Platform for Caregivers and Survivors
That moment of recognition inspired Omarion to launch WeRiseLoud, a platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of caregivers, survivors, and marginalized communities.
“This is for the child who’s taking care of others while no one asks how they’re doing,” he says. “For families living in borrowed spaces. For people wondering if their stories matter. I want them to know—they do.”
Set to launch in 2025, WeRiseLoud is more than a project; it’s a mission to make the unseen visible and the unheard impossible to ignore.
More Than a Success Story—A Movement
Omarion Calloway’s journey is not about perfection—it’s about perseverance. He has turned his pain into purpose, using his story to inspire others to rise above their struggles.
His message is clear: No matter where you come from or what you’ve been through, your story matters. And like Omarion, you have the power to rise loud and make sure the world listens.
