From O'Dea Brotherhood to Rolex Excellence

SEATTLE-Imagine a scrawny 5’4, 120 pound freshman at O’Dea High School, trying football only to suffer back-to-back injuries in his first two practices. Fast forward to today, that same kick is now a tall, outgoing “friendly giant” thriving as a personal jeweler at Ben Bridge in Southcenter, specializing in luxury Rolex watches Will Lawrence, O’Dea class of 2017, recently closed one of his biggest sales, delivering a hard to find Rolex to Seattle Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu shortly after his game sealing pick-six in the Super Bowl LX. Lawrence reflects on how O’Dea shaped him from an introverted teen into a confident sales professional in an unexpected industry. Our friendship, born from a chance gym encounter and cemented by the O’Dea brotherhood, frames his story.

In a world with so much negativity, Lawrence tries to be “a positive light in a dark world,” offering advice or support to anyone who needs it. Despite his size making him look intimidating, he insists he’s a “friendly giant.” His connection with O’Dea student Jimmy Mitchell is proof, they met at the gym, realized they were both O’Dea guys, and instantly clicked. Since then, they have  watched each other grow, Mitchell from 140 to nearly 175 pounds, and Lawrence from Nordstrom to becoming one of Ben Bridge’s standout Rolex specialists.

              The brotherhood wasn’t loud or flashy, it revealed itself after graduation. Whether at Nordstrom or the gym, meeting another O’Dea alum always sparked an instant bond. Sports weren’t his path football ended with real injuries, and height limited basketball but personal growth was dramatic. He grew nearly eight inches in high school, and was even more confident

              Certain teachers left lasting marks. Mr. Karate drilled the importance of starting a Roth IRA early and avoiding pointless spending advice Will followed. Mr. Greenan warned seniors to avoid politics and religion in casual conversations if they wanted to keep friendships intact. Lawrence learned that lesson firsthand. Lawrence also emphasizes surrounding yourself with people who build you up, prioritizing health, and approaching life with “no fear.” Much of his success, he says, came from trial, error, and refusing to be afraid of failure.

Seattle University was a natural choice, family history, familiarity, and a sense that it “just fit.” Freshman year was mostly for, but sophomore year brought a shift. Larence realized he wasn’t around the right people and gravitated toward peers who lifted, hooped, and pushed themselves. That mirrored O’Dea’s biggest lesson Lawrence learned which was choosing your circle wisely.

“When you have a strong body, you’ve got a strong mind,” Lawrence says. Prioritizing health improved his academics, confidence, and overall direction.

O’Dea exposed him to athletes, gamers, readers, and everything in between. “You have to be well‑rounded,” he says. In sales, that means being able to talk to anyone Seahawks with a fan, Call of Duty with a gamer. Being around diverse personalities expanded his interests and made him adaptable.

Lawrence’s story shows how deeply O’Dea shapes its students, brotherhood that lasts, competition that builds resilience, and values that guide adulthood. His advice is simple invest in yourself early, embrace failure, build a strong circle, and don’t be afraid to try new things.