Joe Brent '98 & JT Farcosky '03 - Encouraging Mentorship
As members of the Board of Directors and its Development Committee, JT Farcosky ’03 and Joe Brent ’98 are always thinking of ways to get alumni reconnected to The Mount. They both credit their own continued involvement to the enriching experiences that made up their high school years.
“I remember going around every corner, walking from class to class, always looking forward to who I was seeing next, whether it was a teacher or buddies from the lacrosse team or class,” says JT. “There is just a certain tight-knit, family quality that, now looking back, is a big reason why I’ve wanted to get back involved – wanting to foster that culture, wanting to make sure it continues into perpetuity. It certainly keeps giving back to me.”
Joe echoes, “My time at Mount Saint Joe definitely played a big role in who I am today. I was a pretty quiet kid coming in, but when I left I had a lot more confidence in myself and my abilities. I think overall the school provides a great environment to develop young men and give us an opportunity to expand our network. I think I got a lot from the school and I just feel compelled to give back.”
While both agree that giving financially to The Mount is what will help keep the school relevant and competitive with larger private institutions for years to come, they also wanted to find a way to donate their time and talents to make a direct impact on the lives of recent Gael graduates. They worked together to create a plan for a new initiative called the Brothers for Life Network – a mentorship program that connects young alumni with alumni who are already established in their careers.
“I felt we could leverage this opportunity to make a difference in these young peoples’ lives by getting them on the right path early on and by getting them the business connections so that we can foster that Saint Joe network,” JT explains.
“I have gained a lot from working with mentors and with people who are places where I want to go,” says Joe. “I find if you establish the right relationships, it can be invaluable for your career.” While JT and Joe never had access to a formalized program such as this when they were new graduates, they have each experienced the benefits of having Mount connections as resources in the business world and hope the Brothers for Life Network will create a more direct and efficient platform for establishing those professional relationships. They look at the program as a way for them not only to continue giving back, but also to grow and strengthen the connections between The Mount and alumni around the world.
Get involved with the Brothers for Life Network.
Back
“I remember going around every corner, walking from class to class, always looking forward to who I was seeing next, whether it was a teacher or buddies from the lacrosse team or class,” says JT. “There is just a certain tight-knit, family quality that, now looking back, is a big reason why I’ve wanted to get back involved – wanting to foster that culture, wanting to make sure it continues into perpetuity. It certainly keeps giving back to me.”
Joe echoes, “My time at Mount Saint Joe definitely played a big role in who I am today. I was a pretty quiet kid coming in, but when I left I had a lot more confidence in myself and my abilities. I think overall the school provides a great environment to develop young men and give us an opportunity to expand our network. I think I got a lot from the school and I just feel compelled to give back.”
While both agree that giving financially to The Mount is what will help keep the school relevant and competitive with larger private institutions for years to come, they also wanted to find a way to donate their time and talents to make a direct impact on the lives of recent Gael graduates. They worked together to create a plan for a new initiative called the Brothers for Life Network – a mentorship program that connects young alumni with alumni who are already established in their careers.
“I felt we could leverage this opportunity to make a difference in these young peoples’ lives by getting them on the right path early on and by getting them the business connections so that we can foster that Saint Joe network,” JT explains.
“I have gained a lot from working with mentors and with people who are places where I want to go,” says Joe. “I find if you establish the right relationships, it can be invaluable for your career.” While JT and Joe never had access to a formalized program such as this when they were new graduates, they have each experienced the benefits of having Mount connections as resources in the business world and hope the Brothers for Life Network will create a more direct and efficient platform for establishing those professional relationships. They look at the program as a way for them not only to continue giving back, but also to grow and strengthen the connections between The Mount and alumni around the world.
Get involved with the Brothers for Life Network.
Mount Saint Joseph High School
Mount Saint Joseph is a Catholic, college preparatory school for young men sponsored by the Xaverian Brothers.
