It is a Friday evening – the end of a busy school week for Timberland High School senior Gabriel Wadford. After catching up on school work he missed while touring some of the nation’s top universities, he gets a slight breather.
Inside his grandparents' modest, brick one-story home along Harristown Road in St. Stephen, he and his family sit in a small family room reflecting on precious memories.
His mother, Samantha Wadford, recounts a few of her oldest son’s accomplishments that range from notching a state football championship to becoming his senior class’ valedictorian. She even highlights how he reads the announcements at his local church, a comment at which a shy, and slightly embarrassed Gabe laughs and urges his mother to quit.
“Gabe is just a very humble child,” Samantha said. “You never know he’s the number one student in his class. He does not mind letting others shine.”
The St. Stephen resident, though, has been the one in the spotlight. About two weeks ago, news broke that Gabe had been accepted into all five of the Ivy League universities he applied for – Harvard, Yale, Cornell, Columbia and Brown universities. Ivy League schools are world-renown as some of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning. Six of the nation’s eight Ivy League universities were listed in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2017 Best College Rankings.
Gabe admitted he didn’t anticipate getting accepted to the schools, noting he applied to roughly eight other colleges. But he knew the answer would certainly be a ‘no’ from the schools he didn’t apply for.
“I just kind of [applied] because you know the answer if you don’t,” he said. “I really thought I was going to go to USC’s [Columbia] Honors College. That was my plan.”
That confidence and shoot-for-the-stars mentality is something he picked up from his parents. At a young age, before bed, Gabe’s father would tell him he’s a champion. Other times, his mother constantly encouraged him and his younger brother, Roman, to dream big.
“My parents have always just tried to instill in me a great sense of confidence,” he said.
Gabe said his love for reading helped him excel academically. In kindergarten, he was reading at a fourth-grade level, his mother said.
“[His kindergarten teacher] could not believe that he could read at a fourth grade level,” Samantha said. “Her husband came in to see for [himself]. He was like ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe this.”
Even now, Gabe says books enable him to expand his vocabulary and become a better communicator. When he’s breaking from the books, Gabe hangs out with friends, scrolls through his social media news feeds, and plays Pokémon.
In the college application process, when the prominent schools prompted him with essays on why he should be admitted, the avid gamer drew from his Nintendo experiences.
In his essay to Yale, Gabe explained the Nintendo game highlights real issues, such as climate change and family relations. He added that Pokémon Black and White illustrates the difference between truth and ideals. He chuckles about it, but admits it was a real experience that he felt others could relate to.
“I really believe that separated me from the rest of the bunch,” Gabe said. “The admission office, they’re trying to admit real people. If they wanted to, they could fill up the class with brains with legs who’ve gotten all A’s, perfect SAT scores…the whole nine yards. They want to admit real people with experiences. You need to write about that.”
Yale was the first to notify Gabe that he had been accepted. Then came an email from Brown. Columbia followed suit.
While it may have been to Gabe’s surprise, his parents never doubted.
“We just felt it,” Samantha said of her and her husband.
Harvard would capture Gabe’s attention as he selected the school primarily for the financial package it offered. He’ll enroll in the school’s government program this fall.
On his way to Cambridge, he has inspired a host of local students to “aim for the stars.”
Samantha recounts other parents who told her how proud they are of Gabe. One mother said she cried out of joy when she read the news on Facebook.
“Other kids are wanting to do that now…applying to their dream school,” Samantha said. “I’m so happy…for the community as a whole.”
Gabe is aware of the significance. St. Stephen is a rural community with a population slightly less than 2,000, according to the 2010 U.S. Census. The website city-data.com reported the area’s median household income totals less than $26,000.
He knows Harvard will brings it’s challenges, but Gabe hopes his path is an inspiration to others.
“It’s important to acknowledge that I come from a small area because there’s other students out there that come from small areas as well who probably believe that ‘oh, because nothing like this ever happened in my town, it won’t happen to me,’” Gabe said. “That’s not a good way to think. Anything is possible.”
“I want to inspire them to believe that they too can make it from their small town – Harvard, or any other top elite school – if they just put in the work.”
