Eagles Spotlight: Keah Gruduah ’18

4/25/2018

"My class is representative of the diversity at Rabun Gap. My class is very diverse as far as race, skills, interests, and beliefs go. Despite our differences we are able to talk about controversial topics intellectually and free of conflict." Keah Gruduah '18

Keah Gruduah ’18, competes for Rabun Gap on the soccer field as captain of the girls varsity soccer team. Born in Atlanta, GA, Keah lived there for 13 years before moving to Africa. Keah relocated with her family to Kigali, Rwanda as her parents were diplomats working under the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at the U.S. Embassy in 2013. Keah joined Rabun Gap in 2016 and brings a wealth of knowledge and international experience to our unique community.

Tell us about your background prior to your arrival at Rabun Gap? I am African-American: my mother is American and my father is Liberian. I was born and raised in Atlanta, GA.

How did you end up at Rabun Gap? The Middle School I attended up until 7th grade, Atlanta Youth Academy, has a great relationship with Rabun Gap. In fact, many students from AYA have attended Rabun Gap. This was where I first learned about Rabun Gap. My brothers attended Rabun Gap for a few years before I did. The summer of 2016, I had just finished my sophomore year in Kigali and had to make plans for my junior year. My parents’ job assignment at the embassy was scheduled to end January of 2017. This meant that if I stayed with them until the end of the assignment, I would have to transfer to another school in the middle of my junior year. Junior year being a very important year in high school career for college, the option of transferring mid-year was not favorable. Because my brothers were already attending RGNS, and because of the great reviews we had heard, my parents and I decided that I would apply. Over the summer I had my interview and was accepted.

What is your personal philosophy? I derive my personal philosophy from my favorite Bible reference, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. My personal philosophy is that all things are achievable if you so have the willpower, determination, and drive to do so. I do not think that anything is impossible. In life it is inevitable to face challenges and trials, but you can either overcome them or allow them to overcome you.

At what age did you start playing soccer and what role does it fulfill in your life? I started playing soccer in the 3rd grade, but only seriously in the 8th grade when I moved to Kigali, Rwanda. At my school, I played on a boys team. This team was crucial for my development and growth in the sport. I learned how to strategize in the game of soccer and acquired many new skills. Though I was already aggressive, I feel that playing on a boys’ team taught me to be tougher as a player. I am an athlete and have played many different sports, including basketball, volleyball, golf, and tennis, but soccer is hands down my favorite. There is a certain skill level and mindset that goes with playing the sport that I think makes it unique. When I play soccer, I feel relieved of stress. It’s almost as if the physical exertion of the sport does not matter because my mind is so intertwined in the game. It’s a sport that requires a lot physically and a lot of stamina that I wouldn’t usually have, but I am amazed at how me as well as my team are able to endure through all of the tough conditions the game may pose.

What do you like to do in your free time? I consider myself to be a very well-rounded person. I am athletic, artistic, and intelligent. This stems off into many of my interests. In my free time, I love to practice music, specifically classical guitar and ukulele, I sketch, read, write, research various topics that spark my interests, and I love to watch movies. I also enjoy the company of friends and family and I love to get outdoors sometimes to just kick a soccer ball or take walks with my dog.

What classes do you love here and why? Although my favorite subject is math, my favorite class here is my AP Lit taught by Ms. Kim Buice. I love this class because of the safe space it provides. It think what many classes in the humanities have in common is the leeway they provide for opinionated responses and open discussion. Different works can be interpreted in different ways. My class is representative of the diversity at Rabun Gap. My class is very diverse as far as race, skills, interests, and beliefs go. Despite our differences we are able to talk about controversial topics intellectually and free of conflict. I feel that my teachers really encourage this type of environment by exposing us to serious topics in the world and trusting us to be mature enough to talk about them.

Describe your favorite teacher? What types of things do you do in that class? My favorite teacher is Mrs. Beth Loveland. I’ve had the privilege of being enrolled in two of Mrs. Loveland’s classes while attending Rabun Gap: Graphic Design & Photography and Visual Arts. This year taking Visual Arts with her has been a blast. Mrs. Loveland has a true passion for art and it is seen in her teaching methods. She has exposed me to many different art forms that has contributed to my growth as an artist and has also inspired me creatively through her endless support for all of my art ventures. Every project that I have done in her class she has supported and encouraged me to dig deep within my mind creatively. I feel extremely at ease and relaxed in this class.

Who was your favorite athlete growing up or who do you look up too? My favorite athlete growing up was Serena Williams. Even if you have never watched her in a game, there is one quality that she carries that anyone could detect: she is powerful. As a little girl, Serena Williams was a paradigm, something to aspire to. To see her with such power as she has as the best in her sport, making millions, and being so strong, it sent a message to me that “if she can do it, I can too.” I can work to achieve power just like her. More recently, one of my favorite athletes is Simone Biles. She is a gold medal gymnast. Standing only 4’9”, Simone jumps to nearly 10 feet in the air maintaining almost perfect technique, a quality that is rare. I am 2 inches taller than Simone, but as a smaller girl it is typical for people to judge your athletic abilities pretty quickly. Many people will joke that because I am small I can’t do exactly what other people do in my sport. This drives me to do what they can and more.

If you had one wish what would it be? I would wish for mastery, meaning that in whatever I do I would be able to do with proficiency. This wish would easily take care of my silly desires such as wanting to do a split or doing karate.

What are your greatest talents? Some of my talents are creativity, adaptability, and wisdom. My creativity is applied throughout my life, especially through my love for the arts and the many pieces I create. I am adaptable as I have the knack for adjusting to different environments and challenges. I believe this skill stems from my desire to do my best in all that I do. Thus, my motivation to adjust. Lastly, wisdom is something I believe I possess. I am a critical thinker. Before I do anything, I think about it first, run the many possible outcomes in mind, and then make a decision. I am a fair person and am able to consider and respect other perspectives than my own.

What does success in the classroom mean to you? Being able to see the product of what you have learned is more important than an actual letter grade in my opinion. This translates into actually being able to apply the material. Getting A’s is important to me personally, but I believe that true education can only be achieved when students are learning to grow and not just to get an A.

What motivates and inspires you? My parents raised me with the ideology that I should do my best in all that I do. What drives me is the motivation and strive to become the best version of myself. To remain in mediocrity or to stay complacent in life, will mean that I have failed that mission. I could never see myself as such. My family also motivates me. I want to be successful not only to meet my own personal expectations, but to bring them along with me and to establish a world for them now and for my family to come.

What are your best habits as a thinker? Self criticism. These past few years I have gone through a lot of personal growth through experience, reflection, and introspection. I am extremely observant and am able to learn from my mistakes and those of others so to improve in the future.

What are the colleges that you have been looking at and would really love to attend, and why? I applied to five schools in total, all of which I have been accepted, including: University of Georgia, Gordon College in Boston, GA Tech, Spelman, and Agnes Scott. Georgia Institute of Technology is my top school and the school that I plan to attend in the fall. One, it is one of the top schools for computer science majors, what I plan to study. Two, upon visiting campus I fell in love. I felt extremely comfortable there surrounded by a beautiful campus and a warm and welcoming environment of faculty and students.

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