By George Escobarete ‘25

When I walked through the halls of Brother Rice High School in August of 2021, I was incredibly nervous. I wanted to go to a different school where all my friends were going, but my parents, luckily, forced me into Brother Rice. I felt like an outcast walking the same halls with guys that seemed to have everything figured out.

However, it got better. Senior year was an incredible experience, for it was one the best years I had at Brother Rice. This school year was all about change, and I had gone through many changes.

My biggest change was quitting volleyball my senior year. It was extremely bittersweet for me because though I did love the sport, I did not love playing it anymore. I felt like it was not for me. Even though many people knew who I was because of volleyball, I knew it was no longer meant for me. I instead got a job with one of my grammar school friends.

I started to warm up to people and talk to others. I became more open in school.

If I was asked what experience really influenced me in all my years at Brother Rice, I will always say the same thing – Kairos. I was extremely grateful to have been a part of Kairos 170, where I was able to make life-long friendships with people I would have never thought of. I will forever recommend going on Kairos; it truly changed my life, and it proved to me that I was not alone.

This retreat validated me about many things, but one thing was that there were guys at Brother Rice that saw me and cared for me. Kairos 170 did change my life, but it was not the only thing that impacted me.

My senior year was all about evolving into a man. During college applications, I was terrified of being denied from schools, for it would prove to me that I was a failure. Little did I know that I would be accepted into almost every school I applied to and into my top school: the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

I fell in love with UIUC the moment I stepped foot on campus, and it was my goal to be accepted there. I am going to be studying architecture, which is what I always wanted to do.

I made many more friends at Brother Rice, but I am most thankful for these three guys: Brian Spellman, Andrew Quinn, and Kevin Walczak. With them, senior year was so much fun, and I am going to miss them when I am at college. Well, I’ll see Kevin since he is also going to the same school as me, but that’s beside the point.

Time flew by extremely fast this school year, and I still cannot comprehend that I will be graduating from high school later this month. I never understood Brother Rice’s “Brotherhood” because I felt like I was never going to be a part of it. But now, I understand the Brotherhood, and I feel included in the Brotherhood at Brother Rice.

Brother Rice has changed me forever, and I thank every person and teacher that has helped me get to where I am today.