Once upon a time, Brendan took roles in school plays and, although he doesn’t have a favorite role, he says playing villains “is always a lot of fun.” He remains connected with the theater world in Philadelphia, though mostly as an audience member and a “picky, picky critic.” In his spare time, he enjoys gardening and reading; John Gardner’s Grendel stands out as a favorite.
As a tutor, Brendan most enjoys working with students and their families during a period of momentum and change as the student strives, struggles, and ultimately triumphs. He fully recognizes the value of being invited into a family’s home, and he is always grateful for the opportunity. He advises his students to remember that their reward is not only the score but the sense of accomplishment that comes from putting in the work and succeeding.
Brendan’s future path remains “muddy,” but he assures me that he doesn’t mind a bit of mud. He has, however, applied to several Master of Fine Arts programs for Creative Writing in Poetry and has done some reading on creative writing pedagogy. In the meantime, Brendan plans to continue working as a substitute teacher and web editor.