Howell makes the most of everything

Published 3:00 pm Wednesday, July 5, 2023

He has served on boards, brought ballrooms of people to their feet, and shaken hands with the governor, and he only just graduated high school in May.

But calling Braylen Howell just a high school graduate would be selling him short — like way short. The young man holds two other diplomas beyond his one from Baldwin High School, as he also earned associate’s degrees from both Georgia Military College (general studies) and Central Georgia Technical College (banking and finance) this spring. 

Armed with a résumé rivaling those of future U.S. presidents, the thrice graduate has built his portfolio on a “yes” attitude. That, and the ability to jump into everything he does with both feet. Those are characteristics picked up from his educator mother, LaTrina Howell. She’s a single mom who currently works as a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) coordinator at Mercer. 

“My mom always told me to take advantage of every opportunity that’s put in front of you no matter what it is because that opportunity might be the chance of a lifetime,” Braylen said. “That’s helped get me where I am today.”

Others have helped shape Howell throughout his decorated educational journey. Katrina Veal was his teacher when he first came to Baldwin County from Wilkinson County in the fourth grade. She remains his favorite teacher to this day. Dr. Runee Sallad, director of the Georgia College Early College program where he was enrolled, challenged him to obtain two associate’s degrees by the time they finished high school.

4-H has played a big role in Howell’s life as well. The youth development organization, the largest in the nation at nearly six million members, equips young people with leadership skills through hands-on learning focused on agricultural and environmental issues, communication skills, food and nutrition, health, and citizenship. Howell joined in the fifth grade, and remembers days when he’d hop on the 4-H bus getting teased by classmates because they thought the program was lame.

“That was embarrassing at the time because in my immature mind I didn’t want to be perceived as lame or uncool,” he said. “I was really contemplating getting out of it, but my mom talked some sense into me. She told me it really doesn’t matter what these people say because at the end of the day it’s about what you think about yourself.”

Mom’s advice paid off. Just a few weeks ago, Howell, through his robust portfolio and outstanding presentation skills, earned a Dean’s Award and status as a Master 4-H’er, which is one of the highest honors anyone who participates in the program can earn. He’ll go on to State Congress later this month and try to become a two-time Master 4-H’er. Throughout his time in the program, he’s also been president of Baldwin County 4-H and served on the board at various levels. Just last week he was at Rock Eagle working as a team leader at Cloverleaf Camp mentoring the program’s youngest participants. 

Howell over the years has had multiple opportunities to sharpen his presentation and public speaking skills outside of 4-H. Twice he won Georgia College & State University’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day essay contest and got to read his work to a Magnolia Ballroom full of community leaders. He impressed those in charge of the event so much that in 2020 when he was only a high school freshman he was tabbed as the breakfast’s keynote speaker. There, he networked with Milledgeville Mayor Mary Parham-Copelan and Baldwin County School District Superintendent Dr. Noris Price. That connection with the superintendent eventually led to another speaking engagement that happened just a few weeks ago. Howell attended the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) Conference in Savannah and spoke to school board members, superintendents, and education leaders across the state about the impact public education has had on his life.

“Dr. Price came to me like she was Uncle Sam and I was a military recruit, ‘I want you!’ It made me feel really good that she thought of me to do that,” said Howell. 

While at the conference he also briefly met Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp. The governor paused long enough for a quick conversation and photo before passing along a “Go Dawgs” to the future University of Georgia student. 

Other ways Howell has gotten involved locally are through the Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce’s Youth Leadership Baldwin program and by serving on the Milledgeville Main Street Junior Board. He’s also worked at Sonic (“I feel like everyone, if not for just two months or a week, should work in a restaurant one time in their life. There’s no other experience like that in this world,” he says) and is currently interning at Exchange Bank here in town. 

All of that experience – along with two associate’s degrees and 52 credit hours – will go with Howell up 441 to his college home of Athens where he and his mother toured last April and July. Although he had more than 40 acceptances to choose from, UGA was always going to be his destination

“I was just in awe because the opportunities are limitless,” he said. “Being able to say that there’s something for everybody at your school just makes me even more eager to go there.”

Howell will enter UGA as an intended finance and economics major with a minor in communication studies. He’d also like to add a political science minor because, why not? He’s thinking about potential master’s programs and possibly law school. Right now the bright-futured young man has narrowed his career down to investment banking, financial planning, corporate law, and entrepreneurship. There’s time to figure that out. And while his exact career field may be uncertain, there is one piece of his future that is non-negotiable. 

“These last few years have shown me that what ever I decide to do with my career I know that I want to be involved in my community,” he said.

Rest assured, wherever life takes Mr. Howell, he’ll be taking a full plunge. He doesn’t know any other way.