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ODU student said his life was changed after his best friend was arrested

The arrest led Taylor to pursue an education in criminal justice.

NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) — In just a few days, Montae Taylor will graduate from Old Dominion University.

“I've been waiting for this moment ever since I decided to come to ODU,” said Taylor.

Growing up, the first generation college student from Richmond didn't think he'd make it this far.

But something along the way led him to pursue a college career.

“One of my closest friends ended up getting incarcerated for a crime he did commit, but when he was incarcerated, the way they handled his case was very unjust,” said Taylor.

His friend, Cornelius Clayton was sentenced to 34 years in prison after his involvement in a string of robberies.

Taylor described seeing his friend behind bars as a life-changing moment. From there, he was determined to bring positive change to his community. The soon-to-be college graduate now returns to his old high school to encourage young students to pursue higher education.

Taylor said his friend Clayton had a lot to do with the outcome of his life.

“First phone call he ever had with me when he was able to call me, he said, ‘Promise me you’re gonna go to college… but go to college and do something that's better than what's around us.’"

On Saturday, Taylor will earn his diploma with a double major of criminology and sociology. He hopes to make a difference in a community, he believes, needs him the most.

“My main goal is actually to open a youth rehabilitation center that would help transcend the way we do the juvenile correction system into something that's more rehabilitation, focused on education,” said Taylor.

Even from behind bars, Clayton has encouraged him every step of the way.

“I would send him my schedule at the beginning of the semester and he would keep it and ask ‘Bro, did you study for that exam? So he really pushed me through this whole experience,” said Taylor.

After he graduates, Taylor plans to go to law school and focus on the issue of mass incarceration.

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