By Jack McAuslan ’16

THE ROUNDUP

People who know John Marks ’16 noticed at the beginning of October he had shaved his head.

“October is breast cancer awareness month, and my mother has been fighting cancer for a little over a year now,” Marks said. “I just thought that I would show her some support and spread awareness about cancer by shaving my head.”

One of Marks’ friends, Chris Favela ’16, said that Marks was quiet for a while with this family situation and that the news came as a surprise to everybody close to him.

“It sort of came out of left field,” Favela said. “He was so quiet about his mother’s situation.  I thought it was just John shaving his head for no good reason.”

Marks, as well as being known for quiet, is also known by his friends as a true man for others and someone who speaks out against injustice.

“What makes John a consummate Brophy student is his inbred commitment to justice—John has a heart he wears on his sleeve, and when he sees or hears something foolish or unfair, then he speaks right up and lets his opinion be known,” said Mr. Lane McShane ’82.

Another friend of Marks, Jay Rix ’16, also found out about Marks’ mother’s condition this year.

“When John told me he was very nonchalant about it and I knew that, if he needed me, I would be there for him,” Rix said.

“I wasn’t going to pressure him about it,” Rix said.  “I want him to come to me when he needs to talk.”

Marks is also involved in the Covert American Politics club run by Mr. McShane.

Marks said that his favorite class is English 3 taught by Mr. McShane.

He just makes American Literature interesting and he helps me to see reading in a whole new light,” Marks said.

“I actually knew of John’s family struggles from before he shaved his head—John and I were on retreat together, and I have read his personal essays, so I am very aware of challenges that John Marks faces that most students may never deal with in their lifetimes,” Mr. McShane said.

“John still manages to carry on through his day with a unique sense of character and personal commitment to his family and friends that impresses everyone that knows him.”

Marks said that he is hoping to join more clubs before he graduates and that he wants to join the Future Teachers club and Tech Theater.

“My mom says that since I love talking about history and I talk nonstop, I should be a history teacher and that I should teach at Brophy,” Marks said.