World traveler, musician, and natural born leaderBrandon Royal ’04

Even though it’s been a few years since Brandon was a student at McLean School, you might still find him on campus, catching up with his former teachers and staff members or congratulating the newest class of graduates.

“Whenever I go back it’s a trip down memory lane and it feels good,” Royal said.

No matter how much time passes, Royal will always have a connection to the school that gave him the foundation for lifelong success.

Royal felt at home as soon as he arrived at McLean. His classmates and homeroom advisor instantly made him feel welcome and making friends came easily to him. The close-knit community of faculty, staff, and students was like family to Royal.

Being at a small school “gave everyone the chance to know one another, and with that, you develop better relationships,” he said.

One way that Royal formed bonds with his classmates was through jazz band. He played classical music before coming to McLean, but jazz opened Royal up to new perspectives.

“Being in a jazz band taught me about being a part of an important group, being a strong link in a circle,” Royal said. “Everybody has an important role that they need to play and with that role you can mold it, you can carve it any way that you want.”

Participating in jazz band was also how Royal met one of his closest friends, Daniel Thomas. The musicians hit it off one day when Thomas was playing drums and Royal was playing piano. After the school day ended, they would sometimes go to the music room “and just play the day away,” Royal said.

A Head of School Award winner, Royal was a well-liked student who made a big impression on the McLean community. His teachers and friends saw that he was a natural leader and encouraged him to run for student government. Royal was honored.

“It’s humbling to know that you have people who think about you in that kind of way,” he said.

So Royal put his all into his role as Vice President of the Upper School. During midterm exams before the holiday break, Royal and the student government set up a snack booth to give students a pick-me-up and a sweet send-off into the new year. He was also involved in fundraisers like bake sales and car washes.

“Everybody had my back, I had to make sure I had everybody else’s too,” he said.

McLean was also supportive of Royal’s passion for world language. Before coming to McLean, Royal had taken classes in Mandarin Chinese and took part in a world exchange program in China. McLean didn’t offer Mandarin Chinese, so Royal was provided with a private teacher from outside the school. It’s just one example of how “they’re always willing to work with the student” at McLean, Royal said.

He continued to follow his passion for Chinese language and culture after graduating from McLean. Royal majored in Asian studies and minored in management at Manhattanville College and went on to pursue a master’s degree in TK at Central South University in Changsha, China. Royal completely immersed himself in the culture while abroad, speaking only Chinese and enjoying the Hunan province’s famous spicy cuisine.

“It was amazing and unforgettable. Being able to study abroad in any country is an experience of a lifetime,” Royal said.

Now Royal uses his world language skills to help others as a TK at Washington Dulles International Airport. He works with the airport management staff to assist with incoming flights and ensure that everything runs according to plan. Whenever a flight from China comes in, Royal is called to help with translation — some frequent flyers even specifically request Royal because they know they will be in good hands.

Royal has had some amazing adventures since his high school graduation. But wherever he goes, Royal always has a home at McLean.

“McLean helped open up a lot of things for me,” Royal said. “If I could go back in time to McLean I would.”