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After a Violent Childhood, How Did Will Make It?

University of the District of Columbia students, faculty and staff watch Bill Cosby embrace student William Kellibrew IV on the "Oprah Winfrey Show." (By Nikki Kahn -- The Washington Post)

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So how did he make it?

Family and friends keeping him close, junior Maaku Adi said.

By realizing he had choices, said Rondolph Codlin, a 34-year-old math major. "And determination."

"Faith," freshman Lekea Hutchins said.

Sophomore Mwansa Changwe thinks he survived by believing he could make a change and stop the cycle. "His story might help close the hole in someone else's life," she said.

Staff researcher Aruna Jain contributed to this report. Excerpts of Kellibrew's appearance on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" can be seen athttp://oprah.com.

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After a Violent Childhood, How Did Will Make It?

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