on the hilltop
Martha Kebeh ’16 a brilliant academic, an even better human being NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOLAR BEGINS STUDIES AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY by Jody P. McNamara
Intelligence. Perseverance. Inquisitiveness. These are all attributes you’d expect to find in a Worcester Academy valedictorian. And while Martha Kebeh ’16, this year’s class-selected valedictorian, has all of these qualities in abundance, the first thing you notice about her is her warm and generous smile. Martha has a lot to smile about right now. After addressing her class at graduation this past June, Martha has begun her studies at Harvard University. It’s been a long road to this enviable position, but Martha has managed her way through WA with great grace and charm—and her classmates love her for it. Getting Martha to this point has been an arduous road for the Kebeh family. Martha’s mom, Abibatu Kamara, is a native of Sierra Leone, and her dad, Lamine Kebeh, hails from Liberia. Together, the Kebehs fled Liberia for Greece in 1995, eventually emigrating to the United States and settling in Worcester. Adding three children to the family along the way, both of Martha’s parents now work at UMass Memorial Medical Center, Abibatu as a nurse and Lamine as a custodian. With Abibatu working days and Lamine on a night shift, juggling the family schedule and finances has been difficult. “It’s not easy for my parents,” Martha confirms, “And I appreciate everything they’ve done for my brother, sister, and me.” But it’s been well worth the
struggle. The opportunities that the WA Neighborhood Scholarship has afforded Martha are unparalleled. When asked about the highlights of her years here on The Hilltop, Martha doesn’t skip a beat. “The 8th grade Outward Bound trip to New York City definitely stands out,” Martha offers enthusiastically. “We all complained about not taking a shower for 3 days, but we all knew that we were learning a lot about the world and about each other. We all became a little more independent on that trip and, clichéd as it sounds, I think we began to find ourselves.” Martha plans to double major at Harvard. She’ll be studying both English and Biology, taking on a pre-med track. “I’m not completely positive about medical school, but I want to have things lined up correctly if I decide in that direction,” Martha says. “And I just love studying English. It’s my way to express myself.” Martha, always eager to learn, adds, “There were still classes at WA that I didn’t get to take! Astronomy… Geology… I’m so sad there was never enough time for everything.” Is there a favorite teacher at WA? “Don’t make me pick! Martha laughs heartily. “These teachers are tough, but their toughness just makes you better in the long run.” We couldn’t agree more. Martha had her pick of schools, to be sure. In fact, Martha was accepted for admission to every school where she
applied, including Yale and Princeton. Why Harvard? “The location is perfect for me, “ Martha says, enthusiastically. “It’s close enough to come home, but far enough away that I can create my own little world there. After all, that’s what college is for; to go find yourself in a new setting.” “The people I met and the vibe I got were just perfect,” Martha continues. “I went to Harvard’s accepted students weekend and had coffee in Harvard
Square. I just felt so great! So independent! I love the city and the feeling of having everything right at your fingertips. I like stepping outside of who I am and meeting people who aren’t all having the very same experience as me.” It appears that Martha Kebeh has a world of new experiences ahead of her. She sums up her current situation just perfectly for us: “I feel very prepared by Worcester Academy. I feel like I’m in a good place.” Worcester Academy
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