Although you may question your decision, the Malvern “brotherhood” truly lives up to its hype.
Often times actions manifest themselves at times and in ways that you least expect.
After being very excited to attend Malvern as an eighth grader, over my first three years at Malvern I questioned my decision on whether or not Malvern was the right choice for me. I heard a lot about the so-called “brotherhood”, but didn’t really feel it first-hand. I started to question its existence.
Although there have been many different experiences over the past year that changed my outlook on the brotherhood, it was the second weekend in May in my last year at Malvern that my belief in the brotherhood was truly cemented.
After getting surgery to repair the ACL I tore while playing rugby, I had but two options for activity the following weekend: laying in bed or laying on my couch. Both had their pros and cons but ultimately I ended up on the couch for most of the weekend.
Normally I wouldn’t complain about sleeping and watching ESPN for most most of the day, but after the tenth hour of hearing Brian Windhorst break down Lebron James’ method to eating pasta, I was starting to get a little bored.
Around 3:00 that afternoon, I got texts from now former BFC EIC’s Justice Bennett and Ben Yankelitis insisting upon making the inter-county trek to my house in Havertown to see how I was doing. Furthermore they were adamant about supplying me with all the Rita’s Water Ice a young man could desire.
After sitting around talking for a while, my front door jolts open and who but Mr. John Ostick walks into my living room. After running into my mom at the local Wawa and hearing that we had Delco’s Finest Pica’s Pizza, Mr. Ostick made a beeline for the house.
In the middle of all the hootin’ and hollerin’ brought about by Mr. Ostick’s jovial presence, I had to stop and take a second to appreciate what was going on around me. Out of their own will, three Friars stopped by my house to make a night that seemed doomed for boredom and some pain, into one filled with stories and laughter.
With this, Malvern, I leave you with three pearls of wisdom:
1. Malvern is filled with really special people.
Mr. Ostick and people like him are really what set Malvern apart from all the other schools in the area. There are so many people at Malvern who have gone out of their way to assist me just in the past month with my injury. I ask that none of you underclassmen take for granted the people at Malvern how care so much about you.
2. Get Involved.
If I could do Malvern over again I would get involved in the different activities and events Malvern offers a lot earlier in my career. It was during extracurricular activities that I really bonded with my fellow Friars and made friendships like the one with Justice and Ben. Even if you don’t love the activity just do it to stay involved with others.
3. Get Uncomfortable.
Sort of along the lines of get involved – but try something new. Malvern has so much to offer, I didn’t go into high school thinking I’d love journalism, but here I am today. Maybe journalism isn’t your thing, but there is something here for everyone.
Thank you to all of you who made my Malvern experience special.
