By Collin McShane ’19
THE ROUNDUP
In less than a 10 minute span, at least four different teachers approached Max Fees ’17 while he was sitting in the McCain Colonnade.
In a friendly, comfortable tone they asked Fees about the football game he would play in that night, and then Student Council activities he would help run after the game.
Fees is a busy guy.
A starter on the football team’s defense, a Student Council member, producer of “The Lasso” podcast and frontman for the band Rightwise, Fees has a full plate.
Still he said nothing he does is special and that every grade has a student like him.
Fees said all he’s done at Brophy, all that he’s changed, is just him carrying the torch, and he expects someone else to pick it up when he’s gone.
Rightwise will likely come to an end at the end of the year.
“I suppose Rightwise will just go its separate ways,” Fees said when asked about his intentions for his band. “The band’s always changed so much all the time since it was started.”
While Fees got his start through music, he said he looks beyond that now.
“The Fine Art Extravaganza really opened my eyes freshman year,” Fees said. “After that I knew what I wanted to do here. I just think that someone here will have a similar experience and do what I did.”
Michael Grindey ’18, who has known Fees since his freshman year, said that the Brophy environment is made to help people be a role model like Fees.
“Brophy as a whole will carry on his legacy, not just any one person,” Grindey said. “Any and everyone is capable to do what he does.”
Although he will be leaving Brophy next year, Fees said he still has many plans for this year as well.
“Last year I pushed hard on getting bands over at Xavier, but the nuns weren’t having any of it,” Fees said. “This year what I really want to do is lunch time bands. We’ve got guys who want to play and people who want to listen so why not.”
Fees said he is confident about his plans and his ability to carry them out and execute them.
“Don’t get me wrong I still want bands at Xavier, but I can’t do it this year,” Fees said. “Lunch bands is a more reasonable goal. Everyone wants it and the Student Council is helping out.”
Grindey said that people will likely remember Fees for who was, rather than what he did.
“Max has brought a sense of positive energy and enthusiasm to the campus.” Grindey said. “Besides being in many things, he truly has just a raw positive attitude that glows.”
Fees said that to him, leadership isn’t about being in the spotlight but instead is about making a difference however you can.
“What leadership means to me is to change, change can only bring good things,” Fees said. “In five or 10 years, the music clubs here will be whole different beasts, and I’m happy with that.”
