‘Learning About the Brain is My Number One Priority’

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Yair Abreu ’25 couldn’t wait until college to dive into neuroscience. “I’ve known I wanted to go into neuroscience since freshman year,” said Yair, whose family is deeply impacted by Familial ALS, a genetic form of the neurological disease that comprises between 5-10% of all ALS cases. “Learning about the brain is the number one priority
for me.” 

As a UD1, Yair learned that Anatomy & Physiology at St. Benedict’s Prep was reserved for upperclassmen, so he made a convincing case to take the prerequisite at Essex County College. He continued to take several pre-med courses each semester at ECC, in addition to completing his coursework at Benedict’s. In between high school and community college classes, Yair ran cross country and served as vice president of the National Honor Society. He will graduate with an associate’s degree in biology/pre-medicine from ECC in May and plans to continue his studies in neuroscience and behavioral biology at Emory University. Pre-medicine is a popular track at Emory, which appealed to Yair. “It’s close to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and Emory University Hospital. The distance to all these opportunities was too perfect not to put on my list.” Yair said he learned about the national college match when Jaden Oates ’22 was named a QuestBridge Scholar in 2021. Jaden burst into his freshman English class with news he’d earned a four-year scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania. “He was screaming, ‘I won, I won,’” Yair recalled. “I really feel like that gave us hope. Even though we’re inner city, there’s a chance for all of us to make it big.” 

Yair waited until he was with his mom, Iris Erazo, to open his own email from QuestBridge. He credits Associate Headmaster for Academics Michelle Tuorto H’16, Dean of College Placement and Career Development Susanne Mueller and Grace Lenahan H’23, Moderator of Fr. Cornelius Selhuber, O.S.B., for making the unusual circumstances of earning an associate’s degree in high school, possible. Yair is also thankful for his Benedict’s experiences, particularly the camaraderie developed in the Backpacking Project. “I didn’t believe in community until I saw it firsthand on The Trail. That’s what I’m taking to Emory.”