(From left to right) Owen, Caedmon, Fear and Gunnar Churchwell pose for their family’s 2005 Christmas card. Sophomore staff writer Caedmon Churchwell reflects on his experience growing up with two older brothers and their impact on his life. Photo courtesy of Caedmon Churchwell.
By CAEDMON CHURCHWELL – Staff Writer
Sophomore Caedmon Churchwell details life with three brothers, and how he has been affected by them.
“Caedmon,” the teacher yells. “Why can’t you be like Owen or Fear?”
All my life, I’ve been asked to fill the shoes my brothers wore. The truth is I’m nothing like them.
At the beginning of each school year, I enter the classroom as a Churchwell. More often than not, that’s a good thing. Most teachers expect me to have either the knowledge my brother Fear has or the work ethic Owen has.
As a Churchwell, most teachers expect I will exceed in school, and it hurts me to say I don’t even meet those expectations. At the end of each school year, I leave a different reputation for the Churchwells, and more often than not, it’s a bad thing.
If you know the Churchwell brothers, you know that we all swim, we all look alike and we all pretty much do everything the same.
Despite our similarities, my brothers and I have our differences.
Fear, he’s the smart one, who spends a lot of time on the computer or watching movies. Owen, he’s the hard worker with a good sense of humor. Gunnar, well, he’s the one who learned from all our mistakes.
As for me, you can call me the mess-up, the disrespectful one or just the sloppy middle child. Teachers and parents don’t expect this, but I’m not the nice one, or the smart one or even the funny one for that matter.
Living up to my brothers is now the hardest part of my life. I look up to them every day. I’d rather hang out with my brothers than anyone else only because they understand me.
My brothers are my inspiration to change and be better. So, when people ask me, “What is it like to have three brothers,” I respond, “It’s the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.”
