The day-to-day lives of twin brothers Andy and Jayden Kim (’25) are markedly different. Some weekdays, Andy spends his afternoons hoisting his trumpet on the grass fields of Wildcat Stadium as a member of the BOHS marching band, while brother Jayden explains ocean ecosystems to visitors as a volunteer at the Aquarium of the Pacific. 

Other days, Andy trades his band uniform for the reflective vest of an Explorer, assisting the Brea Police Department with duties like traffic control and participating in Orange County Sheriff ride-alongs, while Jayden follows a regimented schedule of visits to Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) to receive treatment for Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the digestive track.   

But as different as their daily lives are, their paths through Brea Olinda High School, and the traits that guided them along their journeys, ran parallel, from juggling Advanced Placement-heavy course loads, to late nights of studying in their Brea home, to attaining Salutatorian status, to matching the other’s integrity and ambition.

And as the twins approach the end of their roads that traveled through Mariposa Elementary School, Brea Junior High, and now BOHS, where they will graduate at the top of their senior class, they’ll also have in common a reward for their 12 years of hard work: full-ride scholarships and guaranteed spots in the Class of 2029 at Rice University and Colgate University, respectively.

The National College Match, a highly competitive scholarship awarded by national non-profit Questbridge to just 2,627 out of 25,500 applicants, connects high-achieving, low-income students with full scholarships to one of 55 partner institutions.

For the Kim twins, the journey to their match began in March of their junior year when they were selected as College Prep Scholars and granted exclusive access to a network of elite college preparatory resources. 

Over the ensuing nine months, they fine-tuned their applications, ranked their top 15 preferences among available schools, and submitted supplemental essays to each, culminating in an emotional payoff on “match day,” Dec. 3, 2024.  

“Matching felt exhilarating,” Andy said. “A huge burden was lifted off my shoulders because I didn’t have to worry about college decisions anymore.”

Andy matched with Rice University in Houston, where he plans to study political science and continue his path towards public service and law enforcement. Jayden matched to New York’s Colgate University, where he will major in biology on a pre-medical track. 

For Jayden, the match was both relief and clarity. 

Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease during freshman year, Jayden spent countless days tethered to IVs, absent from classes, and battling chronic fatigue. Despite the frequent hospital visits, Jayden remained committed to his education, often heading straight to studying.

According to Jayden, he was “destined” to pursue a career in medicine. Although he previously dreamed of becoming a marine biologist (hence the many hours at the aquarium), his diagnosis inspired a new goal: to “discover a cure for [Crohn’s] disease and aid other children who suffer from the condition” as a pediatric surgeon or neurosurgeon.   

Colgate, in Upstate New York, will guarantee Jayden intimate class sizes – the average student-to-staff ratio at the liberal arts institution is 9:1 – which means individualized attention from professors and hands-on experiences to prepare him for medical school. 

Andy, whose “dream job is to work for government intelligence agencies such as the CIA or FBI,” will major in political science at Rice, where he will utilize the university’s access to resources like the prestigious Baker Institute, and urban Houston. 

“Seeing us both achieve success brings a deep sense of satisfaction and joy, as it’s proof that our hard work paid off,” Jayden said.

It was the twins’ years of commitment to academics that made their full-ride scholarships possible. 

The genesis of that commitment occurred twelve years ago, when the Kim family left Bucheon, South Korea, to begin a new life in Orange County’s Buena Park to follow their father Hyunchul’s work. 

Soon after arriving, the family — Jayden, Andy, sister Sohee (’22), and parents Jiyeun and Hyunchul — moved to Brea, where the twins would attend Brea Olinda Unified School District (BOUSD) from first to twelfth grades. 

Between the raising of three children – Sohee (who is currently a junior at Ohio’s Case Western Reserve University studying nursing) and the twins – and Hyunchul’s job changes, the family survived their first generation life in America through collective determination. 

Jiyeun’s influence was ever-present, from early-morning drives to school, rides to and from the hospital and local police departments, and constant praying for her childrens’ success and prosperity.

“Of course, there were times when they may not have fully understood what I was trying to say, or moments when they felt frustrated or tired,” Jiyeun said. “But they never pushed back — they always listened, trusted me, and responded with such a positive attitude.”

At BOHS, the twins enjoyed stability through a supportive group of mentors and friends who recognized, and respected, their determination and success.

“Without the people I surrounded myself with in these four years I wouldn’t have been able to show up to school with a smile on my face,” Andy said. 

David Kang, Brea police officer and mentor to Andy during four years and nearly 1,000 hours of community service, noted Andy’s “remarkable growth in leadership.” 

“It’s a significant step for someone naturally inclined towards exploration to embrace a leadership role, and Andy has truly risen to the occasion, showcasing increasing confidence and initiative,” Kang said.

Westley Giang, Andy’s bandmate for four years, and his best friend, witnessed Andy juggle both marching band and training with the Brea Police Department’s Explorers program. 

“Andy’s grit and easygoing personality are going to help him succeed in whatever he does,” Giang said. 

But life isn’t just straight-faced cop work and academics for the Rice-bound senior. “He’s the goofiest person ever,” Giang laughed. “That’s what makes him such a joy to be around.” 

While Andy is known for the camaraderie he brings to the table, Jayden is known amongst his friends for the books he stacks on it instead. 

During his junior year, Jayden would often post photos on his Instagram Stories of AP textbooks piled on his desk, with timestamps well past midnight. (“With some caption about how he’s got a long night of studying ahead of him,” fellow senior Sophie Ho said.)

“Even when he was battling with his health issues, Jayden never used it as an excuse, and he kept pushing forward,” Raymond Suh (’25) said. 

While the twins will be parting from their community, their family, and each other — Andy will venture to the South and Jayden to the Northeast, 1,700 miles apart — their bond will keep them close in spirit.

“[We] celebrate this outcome because of how we spent the last 17, almost 18 years together, growing dependently,” Andy said. “[Now] we’ll grow independently as well.”

For their parents, Jiyeun and Hyunchul, their children earning full scholarships, totaling over $600,000, not only brings them financial security, but immeasurable pride for their son’s successes as well.

“I feel incredibly grateful and proud to see both of my sons’ hard work pay off,” Jiyeun said. “It has truly been a blessing to be their mother. I’m so thankful for their respect and love throughout the years.”