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Balaal Hollings has turned his tragic situation in a joyous occasion.

The high school senior and student body president, who was shot in the head after trying to break up a fight two months ago, surprised classmates and walked across the stage at his Northwestern High School graduation.

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Not only did the homecoming king received his diploma, he gave a tear-jerking speech about perseverance and gratefulness.

“First of all, I wanna thank God. It is so good to be alive,” he said. “I forgot a lot of stuff, I forgot how to walk. I forgot how to talk, but I didn’t forget how to eat.”

“It is great to be alive,” he said during interview. “I got shot in the head and I’m now fully rehabilitated.”

According to reports, Balaal was also awarded a $50,000 scholarship that day. After his injury in April, he lost a football scholarship at a Wisconsin college, but now he plans to use his new opportunity to study pre-law or criminal justice at the university of his choice.

Check out the video of this extraordinary young man’s graduation speech below.

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