As a football team manager, Team CARE leader, theatre production co-curator, and up-and-coming athletic trainer, Brady McMains ’26’s perseverance and dedication to growth in all areas is a perfect example of what it means to be a part of the Jesuit brotherhood. 

“Brady has been an example of the Grad at Grad in many different ways, but he especially embodies being Open to Growth,” said Student Activities Director Mr. Peter Ferrari.

As Senior class president, Brady has helped create and maintain the events and activities that strengthen the brotherhood outside of school hours.

“He frequently explores new ideas for events and activities, with our Teacher Student Olympics and Homecoming Court being two examples,” Mr. Ferrari said. “He pioneered both of those events, and his vision saw them to completion. He hoped that those events would bring people together, adding some excitement to the day-to-day. He isn’t afraid to innovate and fail, and he puts in the work to help make something succeed.”

One of the ways Jesuit has impacted Brady is through his faith formation.

“Jesuit really brought me a lot closer to God,” Brady said. “It showed me through mass, through theology classes, and through the overall environment, what it really means to follow God…Jesuit has taught me how to pray better, how to love people better, how to care for people better.”

Brady’s time at Jesuit hasn’t been completely smooth sailing, however. After suffering a dislocated shoulder, he was sidelined and had a part of his identity taken.

“I had to sit at [football] practices every day and watch all of my friends from the team get to play, suit up, have fun and continue doing a thing that I love,” Brady said.

Despite the injury, he took the setback as an opportunity to challenge himself in other areas.

“What’s funny about that whole situation [is the injury] was my biggest blessing,” Brady said. “It gave me the biggest room for growth and the most gifts I’ve ever received on an emotional level. I became a football manager, and I got the opportunity to start breaking down film, helping call plays, analysing practices, scouting, and all these different things that have now set me up for something I might want to do in the future. They made me into the person who can lead others in times of trial.”

Brady, with the help of Drama Artistic Director Mr. Ed Trafton ’84, was able to convey his athletic story into works of art that became part of the theatre’s production.

“I was given the opportunity by Mr. Trafton in the theatre program to write an entire original song about my journey and my injury and where I saw it in art pieces, images, sounds, noises, words, and poetry,” Brady said. “I was able to write that and then give it to an audience of people so that they could feel my experiences and the ups and downs of it all. That was such a powerful moment for me that I would not have gotten to experience, even if I had done that show without my injury.”

As his time at Jesuit comes to a close, Brady emphasizes the importance of being able to innovate and not getting complacent.

“A big part of leadership is innovation,” Brady said. “Get out of your comfort zone, ask questions, and figure out ‘what can make something more exciting’, ‘what can make something more accessible?’ It’s about not getting complacent where we are and finding that room for improvement.”