With only 47 per cent of Aboriginal students graduating high school, long-distance runner and student Johnson Wilson is poised to beat the statistics.
The 18-year-old's quiet determination launched the Britannia High School student into an elite league, completing four marathons before the age of 16.
But the grade 12 student wasn't always so focused. Diagnosed with a learning disorder at an early age, he dropped out of school in grade eight - almost becoming a statistic.
"[His teachers] didn't think he was going to make it," his father, Elmer Wilson, said.
But now Johnson Wilson is about to cross the finish line, making him the first in his family of seven to earn a high school diploma.
"Finishing high school is harder than running a marathon," Wilson said.
Mother Margaret Wilson says it makes her feel very proud.
"It makes me want to cry sometimes," she said.
And he's setting the bar high. Wilson and one other student are the first aboriginal students to complete Principles of Math 12 at Britannia. Only 2 per cent of aboriginal students pass this more academic senior Math course as opposed to 25 per cent of non-aboriginals.
"[He] never gave up. We call him a plugger -- he starts, he never stops," Trevor Stokes, head of the Britannia Alternative Program, said.
"He's the best kid I've ever taught in any capacity."
Johnson's been tackling the finer points of algebra by staying after school three times a week to reach his dream of teaching math and physical education.
He's living proof of the power of passionate teachers, like Vicky Vidas.
"I try to make them believe that it is possible, there's a great world out there," Vidas said.
For Wilson that great world means college in September to study Kinesiology and minor in math at Langara College.
"By the end you can do what you want to do in life and live happy," he said.
And that's the best lesson he ever learned.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Mi-Jung Lee
