A community as strong as family

By Elliot Falor

01/16/2024

SEATTLE — Character, faith, service, and most importantly, brotherhood. The defining characteristics of O'Dea are generationally defining and shaping young boys into hard-working gentlemen of character, faith, and service.

It’s an early morning for everyone here at O’Dea school starting at 8:10 AM and ending at 2:25 PM, but that doesn’t mean the brotherhood starts and ends on that schedule.

“Brotherhood connects everyone together,” said O’Dea senior William Markus Winkler-Cook.

“Brotherhood is a part of my life,” said O’Dea senior Jaden Dwyer.

Winkler-Cook is new to the O’Dea community, a fresh transfer from Summit Serria. He transferred for his junior and senior years.

Winkler-Cook hasn’t always had an easy come-up. He never had a mother figure in his young years, only dads.

“I live in two locations where I constantly switch from house to house every week, my stuff is all split up,” says Winkler-Cook.

Dads that have gone through divorce splitting Winkler-Cook’s life into two, one in the University District by the University of Washington, and the other in Wedgewood, a small neighborhood south just east of I-5 exit 171.

“You get two Christmas, two birthdays, two of most holidays, but they never feel like one,” says Winkler-Cook.

Winkler-Cook has been looking for a sense of togetherness and community, and he finally found that in the O’Dea brotherhood.

“I feel connected to those around me,” says Winkler-Cook.

He found that connection and bond to other peers at the school that has made him feel welcomed and a part of the community even though he hadn’t been there all four years.

Dwyer, however, is not new to O’Dea. He is in his fourth year at O’Dea as a senior and has had past heritage with O’Dea with his Grandfather Michael Dwyer who was a part of the graduating class of 1963.

Dwyer has lived with his grandparents his whole life. He also lives off I-5 exit 171.

“It’s interesting, living with grandparents. The age gap sometimes makes communication challenging,” said Dwyer.

For Dwyer, he is no stranger to the brotherhood. He has been coming to events at the school both athletic and non-athletic.

Dwyer has always had that sense of togetherness because O’Dea has always been there in his life.

Dwyer shared: “O’Dea has helped me to realize who matters in my life, and who my real friends are in my life.”

Even without him knowing, Dwyer has always been welcomed into the brotherhood of O’Dea with warm hugs and gracious hellos.

Dwyer feels comfortable in the brotherhood.

“I always know there’s going to be someone there for me,” said Dwyer.

Dwyer and Winkler-Cook have been riding in the same carpool to and from school since junior year and have shared a unique connection.

The brotherhood isn’t just shared at school but taken home as well. The brotherhood isn’t just another school activity, it’s a part of everyday life.

No matter the background of how you grew up or where you come from, O’Dea’s brotherhood and even extended community will always be like a family.

The brotherhood helps guide those in need of a community and those who need nothing.

The brotherhood is special because it gives the young boys a safe place for them to be themselves and learn how to become those fine gentlemen of character, faith, and service.