Next Stop, Deerfield

5/29/2025

Eighth grader Rabi ’25 was on his way to school when he found out that he’d been accepted to Deerfield Academy. He immediately called his mother to tell her the good news. “My mom was so excited that she began screaming, and I had to turn down the volume on my phone because I was on the bus,” says Rabi, laughing. “Deerfield was my first choice, so we were both very happy." His mom, Legah Kokouet, agrees. “It was a moment filled with emotion, because I knew how hard he had worked and how much this opportunity meant,” she says.

A SCHOLAR ATHLETE

As a stand-out soccer player with dreams of one day playing professionally, Rabi is eager to join the team at Deerfield and demonstrate his prowess on the pitch. His love of the sport began at age seven and has grown ever since. “I used to be an introvert,” he says. “Soccer made me more confident, more adaptive to different situations, and more comfortable talking to people I may not know well.”

Sports isn’t the only reason Rabi can’t wait to head to Massachusetts. “I also want to build a strong foundation for college,” he explains. “That’s why I looked for a high school that offers both a great athletic team and a great academic program.”

A particular section of Harlem Academy’s eighth grade applied science program sparked a new passion he’d like to explore more deeply at Deerfield. “Our emergency medicine unit was so much fun,” says Rabi. “It made me really interested in human anatomy and the medical field.”

LESSONS LEARNED IN AND OUT OF SCHOOL

Rabi’s mother enrolled him in Harlem Academy as a first grader because of its focus on character and academic rigor. “The school is committed to nurturing the whole child, and I wanted Rabi to be in an environment that would challenge him intellectually while also helping him grow into a confident and compassionate young person,” says Ms. Kokouet, who immigrated to the United States at age 28 with a bachelor’s in economics. Today, she is a dual language teacher with a master’s in bilingual education. Her journey influenced her choices for her son. “Education has been the key to every opportunity I’ve had in my life, so I understand firsthand how transformative a strong and supportive learning environment can be.”

Rabi has taken his mom’s lessons to heart, and is committed to turning his preparation at Harlem Academy into success at Deerfield. He had a sneak peek of the classwork there during a demonstration English class for accepted students. “It was an opportunity to see what the classes are like, and the work was similar to what I’ve done at Harlem Academy.”

He’s ready to dive into freshman courses and credits his teachers for pushing him out of his comfort zone. “We are challenged to do work above our grade level, and I’ve learned that pushing past your boundaries and trying something hard helps you to adapt and grow. I don’t want to limit myself.”

As her son heads to boarding school, Ms. Kokouet shared a message for him. “Embrace this next chapter with an open mind and a courageous heart, knowing that you’re ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead.”

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