Anyone who has enjoyed the privilege of knowing Edward Opoku recognizes the character traits we hope to instill in each student who graduates from Millbrook.

 

Edward’s path to Millbrook may have been a bit more circuitous than most of his peers. His talent as a soccer player was discovered by Right to Dream—a Ghana-based program serving potential student athletes who otherwise would not be afforded a private school education. 

 

He was chosen for his potential to become a future role model through education, soccer,  and character development. When Right to Dream arrived in his town to host tryouts, his future was sealed. He was accepted to Right to Dream Academy then given the honor to attend one of six exceptional U.S. boarding schools, where he could literally change his life.

 

To our great fortune, Edward chose Millbrook. He was drawn by our tight-knit community and inspired by the rich and varied opportunities afforded to all.

 

Consequently, in the process of changing his own life, Edward undeniably changed ours. As his Millbrook “family,” we watched, in amazement, as he excelled in every way and received acceptance to the University of Virginia as a recruited soccer player. He joined their national campionship team this fall—a far cry from soccer in Ghana. We are proud of his accomplishments.

"Looking back, Millbrook will always be my home because I got to be a better me at Millbrook. I matured at Millbrook and was ready for college because of my friends and my relationships with teachers who taught me how to manage all of my responsibilities. I will always cherish the opportunity Millbrook gave me because I came from a place where it was all about the individual – where everyone wanted for themselves. In my years at Millbrook, I’ve learned the world is not just about you, I’ve learned to care about things that are much bigger.”

When asked about the impact of community service, he said “he came from a place where things just happened. It was all about the individual and no one really cared about community.” Over his years at Millbrook, he learned “that life is more about what you do can influence other people.” He was a part of recycling community service for 4 years where he learned to “just do it without thinking about it.”

Edward returned to the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana this past summer with as many suitcases he could carry filled with clothing donations. There, he spent time with children teaching them the importance of working hard and the importance of growing up with good character. He told the kids to

“take care of the little things in life because they add up to big things. Caring becomes a part of you – it becomes a sense of doing. That is why I love Millbrook. Millbrook makes you a better you.”