Graduate reflects on family’s inspiration, ongoing support

The sound of Kenyan music played softly and the smell of beef stew spread throughout the house as Bryan Ogweno, senior class president of 2006 at Rock Bridge High School, stood in the entrance. He welcomed­ — with a wide grin — friends and family to his graduation party.

Bryan moved to Missouri in 1993 from Kenya and is the first from his family to graduate in the United States. His father, Linus Ogweno, attended high school and college in Kenya and constantly reminds Bryan that the idea of graduating high school and the celebration that comes with it are very different here than in Kenya.

“He always wants me to remember that high school is not the end of the journey,” Bryan said with a smile.

Bryan, along with his fellow classmates, graduated from Rock Bridge High School on Saturday evening at the Hearnes Center. This year’s class, with 501 students, was the largest group to receive diplomas from the high school.

Highlighting the talents of the departing class, seniors Natalie Lassinger and Glory Liu sang “When You Believe” to their fellow classmates, friends and family.

Lucas Tomicki, Danielle Geneux and Ashish Premkumar all took the stage to give speeches, which they had read in front of a group of classmates and faculty to earn the opportunity. Premkumar likened life to a story his father told him of a crowded bus stop with people pushing one another to make the bus. His father realized that if he remained still, the force of others would move him to where he wanted to be, inside the bus.

“We should use this time to stop pushing,” Premkumar advised. “We should stand in the fullness of our summer and observe what is around us.”

Family is important to the Ogwenos, who had many relatives and close family friends on hand to celebrate Bryan’s achievement.

One person missing from Bryan’s cheer section of family was his mother. Elizabeth Ogweno died in August shortly before Bryan began his senior year. The loss was difficult for Bryan, and as he graduated Saturday he remembered everything she had done for him to get him through school.

“I want to share it with her because she worked so much with me preparing me for school,” Bryan said. “It really is her accomplishment as well.”

His father also realizes how difficult getting through this year must have been for his son.

“I feel good because I was worried that he was going to lose his focus after our loss, but he hasn’t and has stayed on track,” Linus Ogweno said. “I know his mom is proud.”

Next fall, Bryan will attend St. Louis College of Pharmacy with plans to attend medical school someday.