For Brendan Keskula and Andrea Chuva, success didn’t follow a single script. The two Torrington High School seniors took different routes through the college process, but both found new paths forward, earning full scholarships and opening doors to life-changing opportunities.
For Brendan, that path began somewhere unexpected: TikTok.
Scrolling one day, Brendan came across a video about QuestBridge, a college-access program that offered full scholarships to high-achieving students. Once he realized what it provided, he didn’t hesitate. “I thought it was an incredible opportunity,” he said.
He applied immediately to the College Prep Scholars Program, which quickly became a turning point. The program offered resources, guidance, and connections—and even brought him to the College Prep Scholars Conference at Yale, where he met representatives from several universities. One conversation stood out: Washington and Lee University.
When it came time to narrow his college list, Brendan selected nine schools out of more than 50 partner institutions. Students are allowed to choose up to 15, but he laughed that he “didn’t want to write that many essays.”
Those essays, however, became his strongest asset. Brendan believes his writing helped set him apart in a competitive applicant pool. Still, he’s quick to point out that he didn’t do it alone. He offered heartfelt thanks to his mom and “honestly all of THS staff,” specifically naming science teacher Angel Norige, guidance counselor Emily Reznick, and assistant principal Andrew Marchand for their support along the way.
The most difficult part of the process wasn’t the writing… it was the waiting. “Waiting was the hardest part,” Brendan said, describing the long stretches of uncertainty between application stages.
In the end, the wait paid off. Brendan earned a full scholarship to Washington and Lee University, where he’ll attend next fall. At THS, he is a member of the Student Council Executive Board and a record-breaking cross country runner, balancing academics, leadership, and athletics with the same focus he brought to the application process.
While Brendan’s journey had a clear finish line, Andrea Chuva’s path was defined by trust, persistence, and a belief that opportunity often shows up more than once.
Andrea first learned about the program through the EMC Scholars Program and a recommendation from former THS guidance counselor Jessica Odlum. Known for fully embracing the opportunities presented to her, Andrea approached the process with advice she’s carried with her for years. “My mom always says, ‘Any door will lead you somewhere,’” she shared.
That mindset led Andrea to apply for, and earn, the Horatio Alger Scholarship, an opportunity shared by her Spanish teacher, Mary Costa. Through that program, she received support and guidance during the application process.
Like Brendan, Andrea found the essay to be the hardest part. “I didn’t know what to write,” she admitted. “It was 800 words to define my entire life.” She also noted that the process looked beyond grades alone. “Grades don’t define you,” Andrea said. “I’m not the top-scoring student, but my essay and extracurriculars set me apart.”
Andrea’s main essay focused on her culture and the importance of food as a symbol of heritage, family, and love.
Outside of THS, Andrea has been highly involved at Northwestern Community College, where she has taken two courses through the partnership program. There, she connected with Professor Sharon Gusky in the biology department and began working afternoons on a genome research project. Andrea is now a co-author on a PubMed-published article and will serve as a teaching assistant for Professor Gusky this spring.
Andrea credits both Professor Gusky and her mother as her biggest supporters throughout the process.
Although she did not initially receive the outcome she hoped for, Andrea leaned on her mother’s advice and trusted that another door would open. That door turned out to be Boston University, where she was accepted Early Decision with a full scholarship.
Andrea is excited about BU’s research opportunities, its proximity to other universities, and the chance to experience life in a city after growing up in Torrington. She’s looking forward to meeting new people, joining clubs, and beginning a new chapter.
Brendan and Andrea arrived at their futures through different paths – one direct, one winding – but both stories point to the same truth: opportunity rewards persistence, authenticity, and the courage to keep moving forward when the door doesn’t open the first time.
