Party with Patel – Rogers House Edition

24 October 2022Jensa NG, Mack ‘23

Parents, let me ask you, why did you send your child to Brentwood College School? Was it for the outstanding academics? The previously unseen tripartite program? Beautiful waterfront campus? Or was it so they could mosh on the Roger Open House dance floor with the man himself, Mr Bud Patel? Probably the concluding statement. Right?

Well this past Saturday night, your dreams came true.

The first open house of the year is often said to be the best. Not because it is in Rogers House, actually, certainly not for that reason – but because almost the entire school shows up, and shows out. For you parents who don’t get out much, an Open House is a party thrown by a boarding house where – under the supervision of house staff – boys and girls can see the wonderfully decorated interior of whichever house is hosting. And ritual it is, that Rogers House hosts the inaugural open house each school year.

House Captain, Jaxon M, Rogers ‘23, accompanied by the rest of the Rogers twelves set the theme of ‘wedding crashers.’ Now, what does this imply? That is a great query. As the girls frantically search Pinterest for ‘wedding crashers’ outfit inspiration, the boys all throw on their matching white button-ups and call it a day.

The dance floor was held on the plaza between the u-shaped layout of Rogers house. A mixture of Rogers and Privett music fanatics ran the DJ booth, playing sing-alongs, hard rap, and “Pursuit of Happiness” – Mr Patel’s favorite of the night.  

When Mr Patel shows up to Open houses, it is usually just to pop in, make an appearance in his favorite apparel from whichever house is hosting, and head straight back home to be tucked into bed at 9 pm sharp – so that he can take on his rigorous 5 am workout with Mr Langer the following day.

But Saturday, October 15th, 2022, was different. As our mighty Head was harassed into the mosh pit, reaching for air as a group of 6’4 rowers drowned him in smelly armpits and testosterone, his life flashed before his eyes.

But, he survived, and came out a changed man.

Ian C, Rogers ‘23 summarized the night to the best of his abilities proclaiming enthusiastically on Monday morning as he was on breakfast duty that “It was awesome, better than good, better than great!”

Thank you, Rogers House!

Up next, Hope Open House. Mr Patel, I look forward to seeing you there!

Jensa NG, Mack ‘23