In 1999 Matt Gregory chose to attend O'Dea High School, in pursuit of the renowned brotherhood the school had and still has to offer. Little did Gregory know, O'Dea would immerse him in a culture that would be a part of him for the rest of his life.
Faculty, classmates, and alumni all played big roles in Gregory's time at O'Dea.
At the beginning of his high school era, Gregory went through the standard freshman milestones: the pacer test, football games, and his first round of finals.
What he remembers is not how many push-ups he could do or his final math grade. What he remembers is the connections he built during his first year that would impact his life for years to come.
Gregory grew close with Mr. Eldenburg, his freshman-year algebra 2 teacher. Eldenburg served as a mentor throughout normal high school struggles and successes.
Beyond guiding Gregory through high school, Eldenburg also inspired him in his career pursuits.
"Mr. Eldenburg taught me Algebra 2 and is part of the reason why I am a math teacher now."
Eldenburg showed him the importance of building a social web within your community.
In turn, Gregory made the most of his high school years and grew very close with his O'Dea brothers.
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This social web Gregory formed still serves him today. He still stays in contact with his high school friends and they all go out once a year to catch up.
"It's nice having a group of guys that know you really well and what you’ve been through."
Gregory emphasizes the importance of community and tries to implement these values in his life as well as others.
This is why he came back to O'Dea in 2021 to coach the varsity soccer team.
Elliot Falor, a senior on the soccer team, expressed his admiration for what Gregory has done for the program.
"Being on the soccer team feels like a second home. It makes all the difference knowing you have coaches and teammates who always have your back and want to see you succeed."
Although Gregory hasn’t roamed the O'Dea halls with a backpack and notebooks in over 20 years, the brotherhood is still just as strong as it was in 2003.
Gregory continues to shape the lives of those around him, proving that the O'Dea brotherhood is more than just a diploma. It is a community that shapes our world for the better.