By Patrick Conroy ‘22

There’s always a final shot to be made and a final touchdown to be scored, but eventually, every game ends.

Now is that time for me to end my last year as a student at Brother Rice. The past four years have flown by, filled with memories that I’m going to carry with me long after graduation and will always be thankful for.

My first time walking through the doors of Brother Rice, I entered with uncertainty, not knowing what the next four years would have in store for me. I met a lot of great people and I was able to form friendships and memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Brother Rice stands out from the crowd because of the lessons taught to me by the teachers and staff. My engineering and IT teacher Mr. Parker taught me how to enjoy my time in the classroom. From his extensive knowledge of vintage automobiles to his top-of-the-line jokes, I would look forward to his class every day. I guess you can say he spoiled us.

Running the Crusader Crazies senior year was a huge part of my time at Rice. Being part of the thundering chants, singing “Sweet Caroline”, and riding our bikes to annihilate that one school on 115th and Pulaski. Beating Mount Carmel not once but twice! Eliminating them from the State playoffs, and storming the field after with one of the biggest crowds are experiences that I will never forget.

It wasn’t just exclusively about sports. People came together to support one another in the great school community that we had. Following the suicide of a well-liked and well-known high school baseball player from the Chicago land area, my friend Jacob Wizgird and I decorated the campus and had all the Crazies wear green to commemorate his life and promote awareness for suicide.

You don’t realize how fast it all goes by until it’s all over. The phrase “time flies when you’re having fun,” is taken by most people with a grain of salt, but once you recognize that it all went by, you’ll wish you could’ve had more time. I’m proud to have walked the halls for the past four years and will always be grateful for the memories I made. While my time as a student may be over, I will always be proud of being a Crusader.

#ROLLSADERS