January 19, 2013- At the start of the new school year, Seattle Academy welcomed Martin Brakke as a new member of the school community. Though he has only been at the school for six months, Martin has already recognized the undeniable truth that the best way to enjoy your years at Seattle Academy is to get involved. Martin has done just that.
When I e-mailed Martin in pursuit of a quick interview for his profile, his response stated that he was tied up during advisory and lunch for the rest of the week, but that he had twenty minutes of free time after school at the end of the week before he had a commitment to run the score board during the basketball games. When I did eventually have my conversation with Martin, I quickly realized that this e-mail was a direct reflection of Martin’s ambition and of his desire to pack his schedule at SAAS. As soon as he began working at Seattle Academy, Martin initially assumed the role of tenth grade coordinator and tenth grade chemistry teacher. Since then, Martin has gone above and beyond in terms of involving himself in extra-curricular activities. Not only did he join history teacher Todd Wallenius as a girls’ junior varsity soccer coach in the fall, he also embarked on the daunting Odyssey Trip with Seattle Academy’s freshman class. Come the start of the school’s winter trimester, he added a Strength and Conditioning course to his schedule. In the spring, he plans to coach boys’ junior varsity soccer.
As I continued to learn about his past experiences, I realized that this ambition is nothing new for Martin. Before entering the Seattle Academy community, Martin taught at a public school in Maryland and at a prep school in Maryland. Furthermore, he continued to travel outside the box when he worked at a halfway house. Martin said it best when he shared, “I’ve worked with a lot of different types of kids.”
Regarding his experience at Seattle Academy so far, Martin states that it has involved “a lot of getting to know kids and seeing what the school is about.” Although he may not have a surplus of free time throughout the day, Martin has made it his priority to support the students at Seattle Academy and to cater to their needs to the best of his ability. When I asked about his packed schedule, Martin replied “When I’m busy, I’m happy.” He certainly is busy, but Martin would be delighted to meet any members of the SAAS community who wish to stop by and welcome him. That said, if you get the chance to swing by the chemistry lab, the weight room, or the soccer field, expect to find Martin getting involved.