Thinking about college is jarring, scary, and unfamiliar for many high school students. There are so many questions that come to mind, from where to apply to what life is going to be like away from your parents. The process simply seems overwhelming at times. This is why I decided to talk to Braeden Rose ’21, a KO alum and current student at Washington University in St. Louis, who explained how his KO roots have helped him excel in his current academic endeavors.
Braeden first came to KO as a sophomore in 2019. He quickly became a key member of the KO community. He was an active and avid member of several clubs, including Mock Trial, KO News, and Forensic Union. He eventually became the President of the Forensic Union and won multiple awards for his outstanding performances, one of which is located in the award shelf in Seaverns Hall. Braeden was also a member of the cross country team and participated in the winter musicals throughout his time at KO.
Braeden stated that KO’s enforcement of being involved has pushed him to become a more successful student in college. “When you’re transitioning into adulthood, you have to set your own schedule,” Braeden reflected. “Having been forced to accommodate all my schoolwork around having two and a half hour mandatory practice every single day [at KO] made it really easy to plan my day in college. It really just helped me build discipline and planning.”
Braden is currently a senior at WashU. He is double majoring in biology and anthropology, with a concentration in biochemistry. He always knew that he wanted to double major, with one major being STEM-related and the other pertaining to history. He loves how his two majors intertwine and connect. “Anthropology gives me what questions I should be asking,” Braeden explained, “and then biochemistry is how I answer them.”
Originally, Braden went into college thinking that he was going to be a lawyer, but his passion for STEM led him on a different path. He stressed the importance of not having tunnel-vision, and instead being open to change. It is because of this attitude that he decided that instead of going on to law school, he would instead go on to med school, where he wants to study to be a surgeon.
Overall, Braden found the transition from KO to WashU relatively seamless, thanks to the strong core values he learned at KO. “So much of KO honestly taught me to think outside the box,” Braeden commented. He emphasized how this idea has helped him push through his hardest classes and excel overall. He credited KO’s excellent English program and the push for students to be well-rounded reasons for his success. He also noted how KO taught him that, in a way, everything you learn is important. KO taught Braeden that knowledge is truly power, which has given him a unique mindset compared to other students in his grade. This mindset allows him to appreciate everything he learns, thus allowing him to better understand and apply it.
Braeden encourages all seniors to just take a deep breath and relax because everyone will end up exactly where they need to be. “I should have stressed so much less about getting into college,” Braeden reflected. “It was so much less of a deal than I thought it was.” He also urges students to believe in themselves and their academic abilities. “It’s very easy to compare yourself to all the other kids at KO, most of whom are exceptionally hard-working, very bright, very good speakers,” he said. “But you forget how extraordinary you truly are. You are probably a lot smarter than you think.”
