Folasade is 16; she is a junior at Bishop Maginn High School, Oluwasegun is 14, and a freshman at the school. Most mornings, the two of them ride the bus together from their home in Schenectady, about 20 miles from the school. Their mother, who works at the Veterans Administration, picks them up after work in the evenings. The school lets them stay late to wait for her; they often wait together in Sue Silverstein’s classroom.

The school says they live farther away from Bishop Maginn than any other student, their mother is very supportive of the school and of their education.

Both were born in the United States, they have Nigerian names and try to keep up with Nigerian food and culture, but they are distinctly American in their speech, interests, and culture. Foldasade is quiet and shy, Oluwasengun is confident, charismatic, outgoing. They have found a perfect home at  Bishop Maginn.

She pretends he is a pest and a bother, he admits he loves his big sister very much and promises that “I will support her in anything she decides to do.” He has great fun teasing her by coming up to say hello when she’s talking to her friends; she says this is annoying and annoys him. She says it’s embarrassing at times, and she pushes him away.

“I ignore him,” she said, half-smiling, “but he won’t go away.” He is, she said, a pest, but she couldn’t stop smiling when she said it. He nodded, “it is a lot of fun to tease her,” he said. If he gets too close, she says, she just pushes him back, and she demonstrated the push for me. It wasn’tmuch of a push.

He just laughed.

They often talk and play games together at home, “it’s good for me to live a few miles away,” she said. “I get my homework done.” The distance from the school has always worked to make them closer. They often watch movies or play games together in the evening, when they aren’t doing homework..

The teachers say these two watch out for one another all the time.

This brother-sister attitude is a posture, their affection, and connection with one another are strong and evident.

When I asked her if we could get anything for her to enhance her life and academic ambitions, she haltingly and reluctantly asked for a laptop computer. This coming year, she will have to start applying to college, and she needs a laptop to do that. I  asked Oluwasengun if there was anything he wanted or needed, and he shrugged and scratched his head and said he wasn’t sure.

“I wouldn’t ask,” she said, “and please feel free to say no, but it’s something I really need.” She really wanted a laptop, something I very much understood.

(The Army of Good has purchased more than 40 laptop computers in the past couple of years, especially for students who are college-bound and desperately need Internet access.)

Oh, sure, Folasade said, thinking for a while,  her brother would love to have some Roblox game cards; it’s his favorite game. He loves to play that game, she said. I saw him light right up, almost in disbelief. “Is that possible?” he asked, incredulous. “would you be okay with that?” She then suggested he needed a Visa gift card to buy some things for Christmas and some of his games.

She wasn’t going to let him lose the opportunity to get something she knew he wanted.

Folasade said she planned on visiting Nigeria again one day (they went when she was much younger) and Oluwasegun wants to go when there is a wedding or specific family event, so he can see what life is really like for a family there. Their mother often makes Nigerian food – special rice dishes – but they are very typical American teenagers.

Sue Silverstein told me that the two had become an integral part of the BMHS school family. She says they are both hard-working, determined, funny, and kind to one another and the other students. “I have no doubt that both of them will no doubt make great contributions to the world,” she said, “with some kids, you just know what will happen.”

I felt that same thing myself. These two were articulate, self-assured, and wanted to do something special with their lives. Oluwasegun doesn’t quite know what that it is yet, “but I’m just freshmen,” he said, “I have time.” They have big plans for themselves and for one another. They both want to go to college. Oluwasegun said his sister loves to sing and loves music. She could be a musician of she wanted to, he said. She just looked embarrassed and said she does love music, but it isn’t realistic to think she could make a living at it. Oluwasegun shook his head, “she could do it if she wants to. I’d support her.”

I was touched by how the two watched out for one another. As the interview went on, they both loosened up and we were all laughing at the end.

I appreciate the truly diverse mix of the school, it is the promise of American right in front of me, and it’s miracle.

Both Folasadel and Oluwasegun have picked up on the gentle and supportive vibe that seems to run through the school. Their mother calls Sue Silverstein “mama” and insists they go to Bishop Maginn. They both are grateful that she did.

What if we got both a Roblox game card and a Visa gift card? I asked.

The smile on Folosade’s face was a mile wide, and I could see how eager his sister was to get him something he wanted but was too embarrassed to ask for. He said he thought he had to ask for something for school, not a game. I said he could ask for anything to enhance and enrich his life; it wasn’t for me to tell him what to want.

Folasade talked about going to a smaller school in Schenectady a few years ago. She had a long walk home. Her brother always came along to walk with her. “I didn’t like walking alone, so he always walked with me. I always felt safe with him; he always took care of me.” She gets the same feeling when they ride the 30-minute bus ride to Bishop Maginn. I was struck by how proud each was of the other while pretending not to care.

Folasade wants to be a scientist or a doctor, although she knows how difficult and expensive, that might be. She’s not sure she could get through all those years of training and the cost.

Oluwasengun interrupted her, “you can do it,” and then he turned to me. “She will do it; she is so smart, she can do anything he wants.” She got a bit embarrassed and tried to shut her little brother. No chance.

The laptop, game, and Visa cards are going to Sue Silverstein’s house (school will be closed for Christmas when they arrive. What a joy to bring smiles and rewards to children who have earned and deserved both.