Being homeless has not stopped 17-year-old Samantha Garvey of New York from maintaining a 4.0 grade point average.

Garvey's family is facing hard times in this economy.

"Most recently we were evicted from our home, and we're currently living in a homeless shelter," she revealed.

"It hurts leaving everything behind and just having to be rushed out of your home," said Garvey.

Despite her circumstances, Garvey is pushing through. Besides achieving a perfect GPA, the Irish American teen is also a budding scientist.

Her research on shellfish recently garnered a semi-finalist position in the prestigious Intel National Science Competition.

"[I] want to do better for myself. I want a better life, so that's why I try so hard," she explained. "That's why I work so hard."

If she wins, she would get an award of $100,000.