If there’s one word that captures Tae’Veon, it’s active.
It shows up in the way he’s approached the last four years—consistently doing what’s asked and then going beyond it. He’s humble, focused, and driven from within, someone who doesn’t quite know what to do with praise but continues to put in the work anyway.
Over time, more of his personality has come through. He’s thoughtful, curious, and knows when to have fun, but also understands when to lock in. Through academics and athletics at Collegiate School, he’s built a real sense of community—earning the respect of his peers and becoming someone others naturally look to.
Here’s more of his story, in his own words.
What are your favorite subjects in school?
Math and science. I like that they have definite answers. I’ve always liked math, even going back to elementary school, and I got more into science once I took chemistry.
AP Physics was one of my favorite classes. It was one of the only classes where I really felt challenged, and I had to put in the effort.
What did that experience teach you?
It taught me that it’s okay to rely on someone else for help. At first I would go to friends, but they usually just give you answers. Eventually I learned to go to the teacher so I could actually understand.
What has been your favorite extracurricular activity in high school?
Track. It feels like my first athletic home. I have friends on the team, and the coaches really encouraged me and made me feel like I could do great things.
In what ways have you changed the most between the start of your 9th-grade year and now being in your final year of high school?
I’m more open now, more talkative, and more of a people person. I kind of just threw myself out there, even though it was scary at first. It took time, but by junior year I felt comfortable.
What has been the best part of attending Collegiate?
The people—my friends. They’ve had a big impact on me. One of my best friends is really outgoing and doesn’t care what people think, and that helped me become more confident too.
What has been the most challenging thing about high school?
I don’t think I’ve faced any challenges in high school, to be honest.
Did UP RVA help you in any important way during high school?
After school was a big part of my day, especially in the first few years. Even though we all went to different schools, I got to see everyone and stay connected.
UP RVA also helped with a lot of things—transportation, meals, sports, just making things easier overall.
How did being paired with a college mentor help you?
We didn’t really talk about college. It was more just a person to talk to. UP RVA matched us up well. Our personalities worked, so it was easy to talk to him and hang out with him.
What are a few things people should know about UP RVA?
It supports people—not just financially, but emotionally too. The staff really care. Mrs. Marchelle checks in, and there were times they helped me with things I needed outside of school.
I also built relationships with the drivers. People like Trey and Miss Alma were part of my daily routine and people I looked forward to seeing.
Did UP RVA impact your experience at school?
Yeah. I never felt like an outsider. UP RVA made sure I had what I needed. So I could not only blend in, but really participate.
What are you most proud of?
Going somewhere where I didn’t start and making a name for myself in that community.
What are you looking forward to next?
I’m hoping things stay pretty similar. I feel good about what I’m doing now and want to keep building on that.
-Tae’Veon Johnson
