FROM MARIA BARROWS: Wood Ridge High School Guidance Counselor

Matthew Killen was the type of high school student every teacher loves to teach. He was bright, motivated, athletic, and always went above and beyond what was required of him. His classmates naturally gravitated to Matt’s sunny personality.

A lover of Science and Math classes, Matt challenged himself throughout his four years of high school, always knowing he would pursue a degree in the medical field. During his sophomore year of high school, Matt was lucky to travel to Alabama during his Spring break and witness a surgical procedure first hand. When he returned to school, more excited than I ever saw him, Matt shared with me every detail of what he saw.

This experience helped cement Matt’s passion and desire to study medicine because his life’s dream was to help help people.