At BC High from Nigeria, he's found path to excel

Kevin Woghiren's class ring has the BC eagle on one side and the Nigerian flag on the other.

At Boston College High School, Woghiren, 18, was involved in so many activities he has a hard time listing them.

He was president of the Black/Latino Student Union , a leader in the Association for Diversity in Action , cocaptain of the academic decathlon, a member of the Library Council and the book club, a senior mentor for freshman, an occasional contributor to the Metro newspaper, a football player, and -- oh yes -- a track star who tied the school's long-jump record.

``I had an opportunity to break it," he says apologetically, ``but both my knees are messed up."

Most people would have trouble juggling all these activities. But this determined graduate found they kept him on track.

``That keeps me focused, staying involved," he says.

``Kevin's never going to miss an opportunity," says the school's diversity director, Barbara O'Brien Miller . ``The only thing that's holding him back is that there's only 24 hours in a day."

Woghiren came a long way to these accomplishments. He emigrated from Lagos, Nigeria, at the age of 5, joining his parents in Dorchester and then Roslindale.

His father is a lab pathologist and his mother a nursing assistant. Despite their busy schedules, Woghiren spends many evenings with them, his three siblings, and his 11 cousins in Boston.

Osakpolor Emmanuel , 17, praises his brother's ability to handle it all.

``He's always there to help me," he says.

The two brothers returned to Nigeria this year for the funeral of their grandfather, a village chief. It was Kevin's first trip back.

``I was kind of lost in my country," he says, ``but at the same time, I knew where I came from."

From there he can branch out: He starts Chinese classes this month. (O'Brien Miller calls him a ``global citizen.")

Woghiren says he gains spiritual strength from his family members, who attend St. Christopher's in Dorchester. He has chosen to attend a Jesuit school, Loyola University Chicago .

Still, he doesn't intend to follow entirely in his parents' footsteps. Though he spent three years volunteering at Brigham and Women's Hospital , he now thinks of double-majoring in economics and information technology, maybe to work for the government as an analyst or information officer.

The greatest reward of his arduous high school resume might be confidence.

``If I can succeed at BC High with all I've done, I can succeed at Loyola also," he says. And maybe in Beijing as well.