Annandale graduate Wilson Tu passed away yesterday after suffering severe head trauma in a car accident earlier in the week.

Tu was greatly involved in the AHS community, taking part in activities ranging from Annandale Bible Study to Junior Reserves Officer Training Corps (JROTC).

Not only was Tu involved at AHS, he also made it better by brightening any room that he walked into.

“He was always smiling, there was never a time that I saw him with a sad face,” junior Leif Jomuad said. “He was also always dancing and making everyone smile.”

Aside from being very outgoing and involved around AHS, Tu was also genuinely kind amongst his group of friends.

“I remember how every morning, he would be sitting by the benches in front of the auditorium with our mutual friends, and I would say hi and he would always say hi to me and then tell a joke or something,” junior Shawn de Lopez said. “His smile was always there, and his happiness just resonated with me and made my day.”

Along with his extracurricular activities and his friends, Tu excelled inside the classroom.

“As a student, I thought he was a very smart kid and I enjoyed having him as as student,” History teacher Kathlyn Berry said. “He was always kind, respectful and mindful of others. He wasn’t selfish in any way.”

Tu’s presence in the AHS community will be greatly missed.

“I really regret all of the things that I didn’t get to say to him,” Jomuad said. “I got to visit him in the hospital on Wednesday, and I tried to say everything I could, because you just don’t know at that point.”

Tu suffered traumatic brain injuries after being in a severe car accident. There were multiple attempts to reduce the brain swelling according to Tu’s sister in her posts regarding his passing.

These posts can be found here: http://www.gofundme.com/Wilson along with a link to donate to the fund that the Tu family has started to raise money for Wilson’s funeral.

Wilson Tu is a member of the AHS community that cannot be replaced.

“He [Wilson] was someone who just lifted you up every day with his smile and positive energy,” Jomuad said. “He was just the happiest kid I’ve ever seen.”