Growing up before his time never bothered 2003 Seton Hall graduate Edward Krayewski.
Not wanting to wander far from his home town of Newark, Krayewski applied to local colleges including Rutgers, Princeton and Seton Hall.
Krayewski was accepted to Rutgers, put on the waiting list at Princeton and was accepted to Seton Hall, where he began attending classes at 17.
Even at his young age, the diplomacy major was able to achieve what he believes was one of his greatest accomplishments thus far in his life, being elected for a term as Student Government Association President at Seton Hall.
During his high school years at Mount Vernon and at Science High, both in Newark, Krayewski was younger than other students in his grade.
He had skipped third, seventh and eighth grades and was homeschooled for the fifth and sixth grades. At 11, Krayewski took the SATs and scored a 1260.
“I never got tutors and spent no time on homework,” he said.
During high school, Krayewski was a member of the chess team.
“I played chess and stunk at it,” he said, “The only way I could win was to force a tie.”
Krayewski said he faced challenges since he did not follow a traditional path in school and was much younger than his classmates.
“I was really quiet, but I wasn’t afraid. Most of my friends were older,” he said.
Krayewski graduated from Seton Hall after only two years.
Now at 19, Krayewski teaches seventh grade at George Washington Carver Middle School in Newark.
Krayewski did not always want to be a teacher.
“Growing up, all the kids on the block wanted to be firemen, but I wanted to be a garbage man,” he said.
Krayewski said he enjoyed taking non-traditional paths.
He is the only white male teacher at the school, but he said he enjoys it for the challenges that it provides him with every day.
Krayewski had worried the other staff members at the school might look down on him and give him a hard time since he was so much younger than them.
He said he really has not experienced anything like that during his short time at the school.
Krayewski’s students are also aware of his age, and they make fun of him from time to time for being young.
He said teasing is natural and normal for children that age. They tease him just as they poke fun at other teachers for being overweight or really boring, he said.
Krayewski has an interest in writing fictional short stories. One of his short stories was about a group of homeless people who started a boxing league in their neighborhood.
Krayewski said he enjoys writing self-referentially the most.
“Self-referentialism is one of my favorite literary devices,” he said, “It lets you make fun of yourself and be honestly self-promotional at the same time. It’s funny.”
Krayewski said he plans to continue his education by going to graduate school to achieve his dream of becoming a journalist.
While a student a Seton Hall, Krayweski was features editor for The Setonian.
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