Senior of the Week: Keon Osei

Courtesy of Griffin Breault

By CINDY MUMBO, JAYDEN OH, and AARYAN PATEL 

Feet paddling, arms swinging, senior Keon Osei surges across the defenders in the Roger Nekton Pool. As a great passer and a shooter, it is always the goalie’s first choice to pass the ball to him. As he rips through the defense and jumps for the shot, everyone else on the JV water polo team switches to defense, guaranteeing another goal. As a selfless yet impactful player of the team and leader of the Upcycling Club, Osei sat down to explain his experience throughout his years at Exeter.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Osei spent over half of his life overseas in Ghana before settling in Chicago, where he now lives. Osei was initially skeptical of applying to boarding school. However, his mother convinced him with her own experience. 

“She went to boarding school for her middle and high school years so she wanted us to experience the same thing,” he said.

After joining the Exeter community, Osei immediately started loving the new way of life. Even though it was challenging juggling all of his responsibilities as Exeter as well as living alone, Osei enjoyed the independence. 

Osei can be found anywhere spending time with friends from Grill to the art building. Through his clubs and classes, he has built many connections with other students and teachers at the Academy. 

“We’ve known each other for so long, the teachers and fellow students, that we’ve seen each other change and we’ve gotten to know each other more deeply in different contexts,” Osei said.

Upper Asha Masoudi said, “Keon is a really nice person. He’s always really kind to everyone and has a generally calming presence.” 

Lower Leon Yang agreed. “I feel like he’s really quiet and humble, but at the same time, he’s really thinking about others.”

Yang, also a JV Water Polo teammate said, “He works extra hard in practice and games, which influences his teammates to do the same.” 

His hard work also carries over to the classroom. Masoudi said, “I’ve done some lab work with Keon in class and he’s a great lab partner. He always tries his hardest in the lab and is on top of everything.” 

Outside of the classroom and sports facilities, Osei is always providing guidance and support to his peers. For example, upper Maya Shah said, “Keon made sure I did all the readings and I was up to date with the test.”

Senior Bella Bueno added, “He’s never afraid to challenge one’s opinion in a supportive way.”

Beth Rohloff, Associate Director of the Library, commented on Osei’s time helping with the Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) committee. “I’ve observed Keon to be a quiet and creative leader. He shows up with thoughtful and clever ideas on how to get students to get more engaged.”

Bueno recounted her favorite experience with Osei. “When I told him I wanted to join the girls’ water polo team, he encouraged me to try something new and cheered me on at some of my matches. He brought a huge poster to my first game with my name, player number, and a couple of jokingly terrible photos of me. I remember how much that encouragement mentioned to me as a starting player in a completely new sport, and I ended the game with a huge smile, taking photos with the poster and my friends.” 

Even outside of water polo in the fall term, Osei loves being around the pool. “I do swimming in the winter,” he said. “I really love swimming. I’ve done it since kindergarten, so it’s been really fun continuing at Exeter.” 

Shah also noted that she took a lifeguard course with Osei.

Bueno also recalled seeing Osei’s humorous and kind character outside of PEA. “Keon lives in Chicago and I live in the suburbs,” she said. “We planned a fun Chicago day, we went ice skating, walked the river walk, and for the first time I can remember, I went to Navy Pier. Keon was an amazing tour guide, despite his jokes that I’m a fake Chicagoan.”

Osei’s leadership has translated both to the dormitory where he serves as one of Ewald’s proctors and also co-head of many clubs. “I do Upcycling Club, Exodus Sewing Society, the first sewing club ever on campus, and Badminton club,” he said.

Bueno expressed that he is very passionate about the Upcycle Club as he works to make the campus more sustainable. 

Shah added, “It’s a cool club and I think it has a really good purpose to recycle used materials to create fashion. And I think that he’s quite passionate about that, so that’s a cool mission that he’s undertaken.” 

Osei concluded, “I’ve done a lot of things, but I feel like my biggest achievement is yet to come.”