Poverty, foster homes, drug houses, family split-ups and financial struggles characterize the life of DeAudre Ridley.

Despite the obstacles, Ridley, aviation junior, made it to college and is succeeding. Ridley is the first in five generations of his family to go to college.

After graduating from OU, Ridley, who also goes by PiZo, said his goal is to attend a business school and obtain an MBA.

His future plans are much larger.

"My long-term goal is to make as much money as possible. I really want to achieve at least $500 million and give it back to the community," Ridley said. "I love this state, and this is my home."

Ridley's past and future are as far away as night and day.

Ridley was put in the Department of Human Services' custody in 1994.

"I was separated from my mother because she took the welfare check and smoked it all up in drugs," Ridley said. "She physically beat me so bad that I called the state."

Ridley said he moved all over the state since separating from his mother and his three siblings.

"I have lived in foster houses from Sperry to Chickasha to Muskogee to McAlester to shelters in El Reno, Eufaula, Long View, Warner and more," said Ridley, who hasn't seen his father in a long time.

"I only got to see him for about six months of my life," he said. "I met him when I was 11, and I was 11 the last time I saw him."

Despite the hardships, Ridley was still determined to make it to OU.

"Most people in my family haven't graduated from high school. My mother actually dropped out to have me," he said.

Upon entering college, most students receive a lot of help from their families with applying, moving and finances. If not, most at least receive the mental, emotional and motivational encouragement of their loved ones.

But not Ridley.

"I filled out the FAFSA right the first time and on my own," he said. "I felt it was natural for me to do everything on my own."

Ridley said he always knew he wanted to go to OU.

"It's the greatest school in the state of Oklahoma," he said.

Through his struggles, Ridley said he has stayed positive, dreamed big and kept striving for success.

"So many people told me I was stupid, evil and that I would never make it," he said. "So many people didn't believe in me, so I use that as fuel, so I want to make the whole world believe in me."

Deborah Jackson, counselor for OU's Project Threshold, said one of Ridley's greatest strengths is his resiliency.

"He has experienced a multitude of things that might hold other students down, but he uses those as stepping stones to get to the next level," Jackson said.

Ridley said Jackson is his closest mentor.

"She's more than a mentor. She's a friend," Ridley said.

Ridley said Jackson was a home-based therapist assigned to his case when he was in DHS custody as a child.

"I was very reluctant as a child to talk to anyone, but when I met Deborah, I actually began to talk to her and we became friends," Ridley said.

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