Maharishi School Graduates, Where Are They Now?

Devan Burke and Daniel Zhu

When you think of Maharishi School Alumni you often see dates of those who graduate after the 90’s, but what

about our more recently alumni? In an effort to connect with our younger graduates, I got to conduct an online interview with 2 alumni who both graduated in the same class of 2018. Each one has taken on very different life paths and yet their stories draw many comparisons. Both young men reflect on their experience at Maharishi School as formative to who they’ve become.

Devan

My name is Devan Burke. I am currently 20 years old, I was born in England, and grew up in Sweden for 9 years before venturing to the U.S to start Maharishi School in my Sophomore year of High School. I have always been interested in many things, often too many things to pursue at once. Music, Theatre, Sports, Business, and much more.

When I graduated from Maharishi School in 2018 I had no idea what I wanted to do next. My gap year was a chance for me to delve into work. I started doing Project Management consulting in San Francisco,  from which I learned an incredible amount of life skills as well as business acumen.

As I started college I realized what the true gift of Maharishi School was to me. It was an unprecedented mixture of people. I don’t think I will ever be in a classroom with people that I know through and through, and whom I consider dear friends, if not family, for a long time. The perspectives and diversity that I experienced at Maharishi School is, as I said earlier, unprecedented. I also believe that the discussions had in the classrooms, between peers, and teachers from multitudes of backgrounds teach us far more than we sometimes care to realize and that in of itself, is one of the best teachers we can ask for.

After my senior year at Maharishi School, I worked as a Project Management consultant in San Francisco for a year before starting college at San Jose State University in Silicon Valley, where I’m currently studying Business Management and Information Systems. I played tennis for the Club team and started many projects with new friends. Recently, however, I have begun to dive into music, applying my business management skills to keep me on track and develop. I will be releasing an album soon with all original work (I am very excited about it!). It will be about my experiences in college and the thoughts I’ve had throughout my life from social interactions to deeper thoughts. If you want to check it out, follow me on Instagram @leotheodoremusic to stay updated on the release.

I can’t wait to see where my fellow classmates and I go and where we will find ourselves in years to come.

To my fellow current Maharishi School students, I would say that there is far more to school than just school. It is an opportunity to find life long friends and mentors who will be by your side for many years to come.

Make the most out of it!

Daniel

My name is Daniel, and I’m currently 20 years old. My parents are from China and I was born in Iowa, where I’m currently studying economics and computer science at Grinnell College. I’m very interested in business and finance, and hope to pursue a career in those fields after graduation. Outside of academics and career related goals, I like to relax with my friends, play tennis in my downtime, burn pasta whenever I try to cook dinner, and copy Bob Ross paintings.

Maharishi School Graduates

Winning a tennis match together.

Both Daniel and Devan touched on this concept of their Maharishi School peers becoming family for the rest of their life. When I talk to other alumni, from all generations, I find this to be true. Many of our alumni have even moved back to Fairfield and enrolled their own children in Maharishi School, which is truly an incredible experience.

Eliana Freeman graduated from Maharishi School in 1999, her daughter Leni is currently in first grade and she commented about  her daughter going to school where she is an alumni.

“I feel very comforted when I drop Leni off at the school in the community that I grew up in. I enjoy get seeing other alumni that I grew up with dropping their kids off as well. Dr. Richard Beall has created an all inclusive community that is welcoming to everyone. This inclusivity attracted me to the school.  I value the curriculum as being a part of who I’ve become.”

Maharishi School welcomes connections with all of our alumni and we look forward to sharing those relationships with the community.

To read more about the alumni, click here.

To learn more about our academics or to contact a member of our admissions staff, click here.

To learn more about school events and student life, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.