Standout Student – Kedan Endrias

• Kedan Endrias
• Cross Keys High School, senior

Kedan Endrias is a girl with dreams.

Kedan’s parents moved from Ethiopia to the Atlanta area in 1993 – “like anybody that comes here, they just want a better life for them and their kids,” Kedan said.

At one point, Kedan dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. That came after she shadowed a designer at Banana Republic as part of a program through the Boys and Girls Club. She took part in club activities because her mom wanted her and her sisters to have a safe place to go after school.

At the Boys and Girls Club, Kedan also dreamed of getting involved in her community. She found she had a passion for community service. “I just really love helping people and getting involved,” said Kedan.

Now she’s Student Council President at Cross Keys High School. She is also busy with AP classes and school clubs such as the Future Business Leaders of America, Psychology Club, and Voices of CK Announcements Team.

“Some days I’d get home and it would be 7 or 8 at night – that’s my normal routine,” said Kedan, who, in addition to her school assignments, works at a French restaurant and helps care for her younger sisters at home. “My greatest accomplishment would be learning to balance everything I do.”

Kedan’s dream now is to graduate college and medical school, and to become a surgeon.

She discovered surgery when her aunt had a tumor removed. Her aunt became blind after the operation. Kedan hopes to help people like her aunt one day, as she sees being a doctor as yet another way to give back to the community.

Those who know Kedan attest to her goodwill and her will to succeed.

“Kedan is trustworthy, sincere and responsible. She is super helpful to her classmates, she gets along with everyone, and she is a leader in the school,” said her AP Literature teacher, Tracy Vax. “She is a young woman of the highest integrity. She’s one of my favorite students ever.”

After working with her to plan International Night, art teacher Kristen Bowen agrees. “Kedan takes the initiative and full responsibility for making sure that things are done the proper way the first go round,” said Bowen. “If Kedan continues to strive for the best with the work ethic that I’ve witnessed from her, she will be unstoppable!”

What’s Next:

Kedan hopes to attend Agnes Scott College this fall to pursue her dream of becoming a surgeon.

This article was reported and written by Elizabeth Wilkes, a senior at North Springs Charter High School.