What's good EVERYBODY! This is Nehemiah Harris, aka “Nemo”, currently a senior, student athlete, at Fitch High School. needs your support. This petition is for me to participate with my Falcon brothers on the football field or any sport for that fact. On September 22, 2021, my parents submitted an Eligibility Hardship Waiver. The CIAC board denied my opportunity to play. They stated there wasn’t enough information… They needed more detail. My parents and I asked for an appeal. We, along with Principal Keller and Mr. Romano met with the board on Tuesday evening, September 28, 2021. The CIAC denied my eligibility again! This time, I was denied because they felt there was a gap between February 2019 and my transfer to Maryland. The timeline “didn’t match”.

Here’s what was explained: From 2017-2018 I started as a freshman at Hamden High and played football for them during that time. From there, I attended Notre Dame Fairfield based on an agreement that was made to my parents that they would pay little to nothing. Well, unfortunately I was only there for ONE Semester- September 2018 to February ‘19. Immediately following the Christmas break my father was informed that there was a balance due; therefore, if he couldn’t submit payment, I could not return to school. At the same time, my mother lost her job due to her employer going through a mass layoff, which made it difficult for them to keep up with the payments off one source of income. Not to mention that we were being evicted because we were behind in rent. My parents continued to bring me to school, I’d go to the homeroom, only to be sent down to the office to wait for someone to pick me up. This was ongoing so we contacted DCF for their help to get me back in “education neglected”. Once DCF intervened, they wanted to have a meeting with Notre Dame. I was still unable to return to school even with their assistance in speaking with the Financial Aid Office. Bottom line, the balance had to be paid in full and the fact that they are a private school, they were in their rights to withhold my transcript and my return.

During the Eligibility Meeting, the question came up… “Why didn’t you go back to Hamden High?”. Simple, I could NOT return to Hamden High School because I didn't have a Hamden address for me to go back. So with nowhere else to go, I moved with my mom to Maryland where my uncle, his wife and two daughters took us in. In 2019 my mom enrolled me in C.H. Flowers High School, where I had to repeat 10 th grade due to not having a transcript; therefore, Flowers didn’t have any idea where to be placed academically. When football season started, I didn’t play. There was so much friction (everywhere) I went, which put me in the deepest, blackest whole im maintaining school,job and living & with my mother being in her deepest times,  my mother got escorted by police and I left their house to school without returning back. Ended up Moving into a shelter,  at this rate I wasn't a “survivor”, I was a “maker” as in I had to make things happen to inorder to stand where I am today. I was tempted by “wanna be gang members” and OGs & with me having to be my “own Man” and take care of me. Later going into a month and a half my mother fell ill and had to be rushed to the hospital. My father drove to Maryland to bring me back to CT. After that  I’ve been with Fitch these last two years without any sports involvement.

This is my first and last time as a senior, & a final year high school career guys! Why hold a me back (student athlete) back from something that gave me love to play, productive activities for me to do, and i just feel like some people is praying for me to Shatter or Break but through all the crazy i been through, i do deserve to play Everybody knows that From VA up to CT. All My siblings, relatives and friends I ask for your support to sign this petition, so that I can play Ball, do what I love and give my all back to your support/Love. Let’s Go Falcons!!!!!!!

P.S im 18yr old and the rules say 19, I'm eligible.