2026 Graduate Spotlight: Brayden Tobin, Klahowya

Growing up, Brayden struggled with confidence. Experiences with bullying in a previous school district left him feeling isolated and insecure. By the time he reached high school, he worried more about fitting in than being himself. Not only did it leave him unsure of himself, but it also left him depressed and unmotivated, he said. 

Everything changed when he transferred to Klahowya Secondary School for his junior year. “I really found myself here. I was able to be myself,” Brayden said.

At Klahowya, Brayden found something he had been missing for years: acceptance. He built meaningful friendships with classmates who embraced him for who he was and found encouragement from staff members who supported him through academic challenges and personal growth.With that support, Brayden began to rebuild his confidence and discover his strengths.

As he graduates from Klahowya, Brayden leaves as a more self-assured person, ready to enter the workforce and take on whatever challenges come next. More importantly, he leaves knowing his worth and confident in who he has become.

Q&A

Plans after graduation: Joining the welding shop at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. 

Greatest accomplishment in CK Schools: Graduating. 

Favorite memory in CK Schools: His senior night football game. 

A piece of advice that’s stuck out to him: From his dad: “You can’t change yourself, you just have to be yourself.” 

Where he sees himself in 20 years: “I hope I’m still at the shipyard, making good money, with a nice house, and hopefully a family. I don’t want anything big out of life; I just want to be comfortable.”