Overcoming a childhood beset by civil war in east Africa, a refugee camp in Sudan, and living on welfare in an affluent Chicago suburb, Mawi Asgedom grew up to earn a full scholarship to Harvard University and deliver the commencement address at his graduation in 1999. How did he do it? By following THE CODE. Based on the author's personal experiences and years of advising young people, THE CODE introduces five proven secrets that will help teens to not only survive, but succeed in high school and beyond.