Welcome to the latest edition of Five Questions and a Sketch! Today we are featuring Brendan Burke, a Grand Rapids Community College student working as the Communications Director for Student Alliance. Burke is a 21-year-old Grand Rapids native beginning his third year at GRCC. He plans to get a communications degree and become a social media coordinator after graduating. He enjoys nature walks, video games, and inspiring others.
What made you want to join the Student Alliance?
The reason I joined Student Alliance is because I wanted to be more involved on campus. There were points where I was on campus last year up to eight hours a day and wanted to do something else. I was like, I want to be more involved and help out where it is needed.
What do you plan to do after GRCC?
I plan on running social media for a company. I currently run Twitter for a site called NewReleaseToday.com, which is a Christian music site. I also like to be on my main accounts as well. You can find me on Twitter and Instagram under the handle of @BrendanBurkeNRT.
What is the most important thing you want people to know about the Student Alliance?
We have been hosting an event series called Real Talk with Student Alliance. We have hosted two events so far and will continue to host more throughout the year virtually. We also hold a town hall meeting every other Thursday. We hosted the first one Thursday, Sept. 3. They run from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
What has had the most impact on your life so far?
I have had a lot of impacts on my life. One that is a huge notable one for me is my three years as a camp counselor. I learned the “I am Third” philosophy. It means that I put my beliefs first, my peers second, and then myself. It’s how I live my life. Another impact in my life is the child that I am sponsoring myself. My child is from Zambia, which is in Africa, and I did it because I wanted to make a difference in someone’s life.
Where do you spend a lot of your time outside of school?
I like to spend time with my family and friends or on my socials. I also love being out in the woods. I also like to be at concerts when I can. I also love to help out at my church when I can.
Have suggestions about who I should feature next? Drop me a tip at 5questionsandasketch@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you!
Editor’s note: Responses were edited for clarity.
