When people think of Gonzaga College High School, they think of the rowdy student sections, competitive sports and the brotherhood. Living up to the standard of the Gonzaga man is not easy.
Now, imagine having to live up to the standard that two older brothers laid out before you on Eye Street. Senior Frank Cull, the youngest of three brothers, is a junior and always knew he wanted to be an Eagle. At a young age, Frank, now a junior, rocked his purple Gonzaga football jersey while tossing the ball in his backyard. His oldest brother Bill graduated in 2018 and his other brother Harry in 2020. If all goes according to plan, Frank will be sizing up his white suit to graduate as a part of the class of 2024.
“From a young age, I always wanted to attend Gonzaga because of my brothers and because of what the school actually represents,” Frank said.
Gonzaga’s motto of “Men for Others” stems from its core values of being loving and committed to doing justice. Gonzaga is the oldest all-boys school in Washington, D.C. with a history that stretches more than 200 years. According to Gonzaga’s website, they offer “a values-oriented and academically challenging curriculum to young men of diverse backgrounds.”
“I wanted to not only push myself outside of my comfort zone in a social manner, but in an academic way, too,” Frank said.
Frank is an active member of the Gonzaga community and loves every second that he spends on Eye Street. Frank’s brothers never attended Gonzaga simultaneously, but Frank has learned lessons from them that have helped him thrive here.
“They told me how important it is to be involved not only in extracurriculars but with students and teachers during school,” Frank said.
Frank has used his time at Gonzaga to expand his social setting and learn from his peers. Not just for Frank, but for many of us it can be hard to stay focused, so having teachers who are supportive and keep you in line are a necessity.
“Mrs. Farley is a teacher that stands out when I think of [those] at Gonzaga who has encouraged me to stay on task and put all of my efforts into everything that I do,” Frank said.
In his time at Gonzaga, Frank has also challenged himself academically. He has learned how important it is to have a good work ethic and knows that the skills he has developed at Gonzaga will stay with him forever.
“I would not change anything; I love my guys,” he said.
When Frank opened his letter in February of eighth grade, sitting next to his mother, Frank had no idea what to expect, but after receiving admission into Gonzaga, he has taken advantage of the opportunity at hand. Harry Cull, his brother, is excited for what is ahead of Frank.
“I am proud of him. He has a lot to look forward to and he has a lot to be proud of for himself. Next year will be a big year for him and I am sure he will do just fine,” Harry said.
Frank is looking forward to his senior year and is excited about what is ahead.
“Being a senior is crazy to think about; time really does fly. I still remember how nervous I was [on] my first day as a student, and to think that my last days are approaching is really crazy,” Frank said.
Living up to the standard that two brothers have set may be stressful, but for Frank, coming to Gonzaga and thriving was destined to happen.
Jeff Jenkins • Mar 2, 2023 at 11:26 am
This is such a great article. I really was invested. Frank sounds like he will be a great leader going into senior year.