Dominic Antoine Jr. is headed to Louisiana State University after getting accepted into every college he applied to.
The Fremont High School senior, who goes by “Pooda,” announced on National College Decision Day that he plans to attend Louisiana State University on a biology pre-med track.
“Stepping into a new chapter with purpose, discipline, and vision. From where I started to where I’m headed—nothing was given, everything earned. Next stop: Louisiana State University chasing my path toward orthopedic surgery. This is bigger than me… it’s about impact, legacy, and opening doors that weren’t always open. Grateful for the journey, locked in for what’s next,” he wrote on Instagram.
Picking one school proved difficult because every college on his list said yes.
“No rejections!” he told KTVU
Antoine received acceptance letters from schools including University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, Berkeley, Howard University, Morgan State University, Tennessee State University and Syracuse University.
According to KTVU, LSU made an impression early after becoming the first university to contact Antoine. The school also offered him a top-tier merit scholarship package.
“I knew where my heart was and I trusted my gut,” he said.
Antoine first went viral earlier this year after attending the Black College Expo in Oakland. During the event, strangers publicly celebrated the teen after learning he carried a 4.3 GPA while balancing varsity basketball.
“4.3 student athlete, varsity basketball. They don’t yell it out enough!” one man shouted in a clip shared online by educator and author Claudia Walker.
Antoine maintained a 4.3 GPA while balancing varsity basketball, football and track along with Advanced Placement and dual enrollment courses throughout high school. This fall, he’ll head to LSU to begin the next chapter of his journey toward becoming an orthopedic surgeon.
“I just want to express that hard work, discipline, sacrifice, dedication, and utmost focus can bring you every step closer to the goals you aspire to have,” he previously shared on social media. “My achievements are just a representation of what a kid from Oakland can do, when proper commitment is applied… I promise everyone that reads this, ‘YOU CAN DO IT TOO.’”
