"I decided if I never gave up it would get me through life, and it has."

Though James Matthews has seen his share of ups and downs throughout his life, his passion for piano has remained steadfast.

Before Matthews began studying piano in the University of West Florida, he was a homeless college student at Florida Southern College in Central Florida, sometimes sleeping in his instructor’s piano studio for shelter.

Now, the 24-year-old has plans to graduate with a Bachelor of Music degree from UWF in 2015, but first he has an important stop to make: Carnegie Hall.

Read more at the Pensacola News Journal.