Nowakowski reflects on Brophy career ahead of time in Roundup

By Gabe Tiano ’26

Raymond Nowakowski ’26 might not be someone’s first pick for a writer in a student newspaper. Someone who knew him earlier in his Brophy career might even be surprised that Nowakowski is still attending the school. 

“I almost got kicked out,” Nowakowski said. “It was behavioral stuff, just being stupid.”

Nowakowski appeared in a series of YouTube videos where people he was associated with were vlogging during Brophy lunch. He recalls being called into the Dean’s Office, and also appeared before the Disciplinary Board for academic and behavioral misconduct. 

“I was uneasy, I knew what was happening but at the same time I had no clue what could happen,” Nowakowski said, “I’ve had so many people in my family work and go to Brophy, my mom and uncle work here, so I felt like I had a lot to live up to.”

Nowakowski, evidently, has turned things around in his Brophy career, and has taken to doing activities he loves. 

“I attended a middle school where high school was a question for a lot of students, so everything kinda came easy to me there”, Nowakowski said, “When I came to Brophy, I realized that I wasn’t always going to be the smartest in the room, but that I could always try to be the hardest working.”

“I’ve been in Mass Choir for four years, and been a member of the Hermanos Unidos for four as well,” Nowakowski said, when asked what activities he participates in on campus, “I also do Advocacy Club and Kino Teens.”

Nowakowski intends to major in Journalism in college, and decided to take Journalism to “get a head start” on thinking and writing journalistically. 

With his favorite subjects being English and Theology courses, Nowakowski predicts good things for his time in the newsroom. His all time favorite class was Conflict in the Modern World with Mr. Chotalla.  

“I really enjoy talking with people, and getting to know them. I think I’m an extroverted person, so I’m excited for that stuff to start,” Nowakowski said. 

Nowakowski wanted to share a quote he said that sums up his experiences as a student, and said, “It doesn’t matter how you act when you’re up, what matters is how you act when you’re down.”