If you enter the school through the front door, I’m sure you have been given a nice welcome from the security guard of the school. Maybe you wonder more about who he is, what his name is, and what his favorite hobbies are. Many students and staff members see him every morning as they walk into the building to start their day.

The security guard’s name is Brian Strickland and he is the father of 5 children aged 17–27, 3 of which are boys, 2 daughters, and a wife who supports him and his family. Brian is from a town in Mississippi called Itta Bena where he lived until coming to South Bend 34 years ago, in 1991, where he built his life and raised his family.

Strickland takes great pride and responsibility in what he does and does it with a smile on his face which spreads to students at the beginning of each day. His favorite part of his job is making people smile everyday, something that can brighten someone’s morning and help them start the day in a positive way. He even feels that he has twenty five more years left in him to work.

He enjoys watching the NBA, as he cheers for the San Antonio Spurs. He also enjoys watching the NFL and cheering for the San Francisco 49ers. His favorite movies are the Friday series from the mid 90s until the early 2000s.

Strickland is a great example of a positive role model and demonstrates something all of us should strive for, kindness, positivity, and treating others with respect every single day.