Career Center: TOB Winter 2017, First Apartment

THE BROTHERHOOD BEYOND

First Apartment

THAT

After the Ivory Tower: Their Next Lease on Life As they take first steps into the working world, many of ’Wick’s youngest alumni are banding together for camaraderie, support — and to share in the new and unavoidable monthly rent checks, grocery expenses, cable bills, and more.

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Classmates and teammates at both Brunswick and Yale University, Conrad Oberbeck ’11 (left) and David Better ’11 now live together on Church Street in Lower Manhattan — within shouting distance of One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

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Matt Henkel ’11 (above) and Jeffrey Jay ’11 stand outside their offices in Manhattan — Matt at the Morgan Stanley Building at 1585 Broadway in midtown and Jeffrey at Citigroup’s headquarters on 388 Greenwich Street in Tribeca.

It’s a 20-something’s rite of passage.

The winsome leasing agent hands over a set of keys to your new apartment — seventh floor, third door on the left, let’s say — after coyly snatching the security deposit and first month’s rent (or more) from your back pocket.

This isn’t the everyday hole-in-the-wall you shacked-up in with your buddies on College Street — handed down annually to next-of-kin fraternity brothers or teammates (dented beer cans and empty, grease-stained pizza boxes strewn across the matted and grimy carpet; that same, nasty, old couch in the corner of the common room).

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In their apartment on Church Street, in the very same building as Oberbeck and Better, Sam Philip ’10, Chris Simonson ’10, Ross Collins ’10, and Schuyler Stitzer ’10 catch up over a beer and a glass of wine on a Tuesday night in January.

Gone are the days of hitting the snooze button and cutting that earlymorning history lecture. Forever passed are the late nights of copying your friend’s calculus notes to cram for midterms.

This is your first big-boy apartment — in what may be an unfamiliar, seemingly gigantic city; at the center of what may now seem the completely foreign and overwhelming maze of your new existence.

And, oh yeah, there’s just one last thing: You’ve got to be on the desk tomorrow until well after midnight — or else.

Many fresh-faced Brunswick alumni find themselves in this very situation after receiving their diplomas and turning in their caps and gowns on Graduation Day. They move to a major metropolis in search of employment or with a job already in hand. They’re looking to find their niche in a cutthroat, competitive office, or simply hoping to earn a paycheck every two weeks to stay afloat.

And farther uptown, at their apartment in the Chelsea neighborhood on the west side of Manhattan, Bo Stafford ’11, Chris Kenny ’11, and Alex Gattinella ’11 enjoy some Sunday downtime in preparation for a busy week ahead at the office.

They run into obstacles along the way — demanding bosses, nickel-and-dimed

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Henkel and Jay tidy up at their apartment in Chelsea before their 20-minute commutes to work, both with subway rides, city walks and street signs, and the occasional taxicab (far right) included.

budgets, even dry cleaning, vacuuming, and taking out the trash. It’s an experience that’s exciting, nerve-wracking, and daunting — all at the same time. And, as we’ve heard through the grapevine back on campus, it’s one many Bruins are electing to share as they forge their initial paths into the professional world.

Two of those young alumni — Matt Henkel ’11 and Jeffrey Jay ’11 — offered their genuine and honest perspectives as to how they’re earning a living, how they landed where they did, and why the Brunswick bond holds so firm through the college years — in a conversation full of insight, advice, and day-to-day details about life and survival as newbies in New York City.

They live in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in West Chelsea and sat down with us for this informative Q & A.

Take us on the journey from then until now — from Brunswick boy to New York City working man.

(TDX), and ran a student-owned

to land a full-time job with Morgan

furniture rental business on campus

Stanley in the Financial Sponsors Group.

Matt: I started at Brunswick in

Nomura Securities in its Investment

grade until the day I received my diploma

Kindergarten and somehow made it to

Banking Division (IBD) before moving to

(I think we really should revisit the defi-

Graduation Day, 13 years later. From

Morgan Stanley for the summer of that

nition of a “lifer”!). I really enjoyed my

there, I went on to Dartmouth, where I

year. I certainly leveraged the Brunswick

studies in economics with Mr. Taylor and

majored in history, joined the club hockey

network throughout the job-search

environmental studies with Mr. Weber. I

team, walked onto the baseball team,

process, reaching out to older alumni for

also played football and ran track.

rushed a fraternity called Theta Delta Chi

guidance and advice. I was lucky enough

called Evolving Vox. During my junior fall, I interned at

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Jeffrey: I attended Brunswick from first

I ended up going to Boston College,

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Oberbeck and Better unwind after a full work week with a video-game session on a Saturday morning at their ’Wickclad apartment in Lower Manhattan.

majoring in economics and playing

position in my senior year and was offered

football. It was challenging to juggle

an analyst position at Citigroup. I’ve been

football and academics. But in hindsight,

with the Media & Telecommunications

it prepared me very well for my future

Group since June 2015.

investment-banking job. Due to my foot-

I’d say you have to use any and all

ball commitments, I was unable to intern

resources you can during the process —

in investment banking during my junior

and never be afraid to call or reach out

year. But luckily, I applied for a full-time

to anyone for advice.

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Stitzer, Simonson, Philip, and Collins often avoid cooking responsibilities with a New York City-style slice of pizza at dinner time — this one at Dona Bella Pizzeria within walking distance of their apartment.

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Did you see yourself here — in this job, in this city, and this apartment with a Brunswick friend — when you were a student at Brunswick or in college? How far did you look ahead, if at all?

who have all stayed in touch.

in Manhattan — even before we

thinking on my own to really figure

Matt: I think it’s always tough to

knew we’d have similar jobs and

out if this path I was heading down

be on similar schedules. We’ve

was something I truly wanted. It’s

always had very similar goals and

still a passion of mine — so far, so

interests and desires to succeed

good, I’d say.

look that far ahead, but I certainly knew I was forging lifelong friendships throughout my time at Brunswick.

Jeffrey and I have been close

finance world before I was old enough even to understand what

for a long time, remaining

the word meant, so there was a

particularly close throughout our

very natural path to where I am

college days, so it was almost a

today. It made sense.

no-brainer for us to live together

in this line of work, and it’s been

Obviously, I had to do some

The friendships I developed

exciting to see that play out. It

throughout my 12 years at

also provides motivation to one

Brunswick were some of the most

another during the dog days of

meaningful relationships I have

keep in touch with the most — as

banking!

in my life today. I’ve remained

you’re all but guaranteed to be on

Jeffrey: Since high school, I had a

close with a core group of guys

different campuses and in different

pretty good idea of what I wanted

and girls, and they will be my

parts of the country.

in terms of a college and life expe-

friends for life. Matt and I were

rience. I loved sports so I wanted to

close in high school and as we got

play something as long as possible.

older and started finding ourselves

Once you ship away to college, you kind of figure out who you’re closest with based on who you

Luckily for us — and I think this a testament to Brunswick’s culture — we had a big group of friends

I was also immersed in the

Jay stops in at High Line Deli — just around the corner from his apartment — to grab a six-pack after a long Wednesday at work.

in college, the alignment of our

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Gattinella (sporting this year’s Homecoming hat), Stafford, and Kenny step outside for some fresh air on a Sunday morning in January outside their apartment in Chelsea.

interests and goals in life really started

other and help each other along the

the transition from college to living in

to come to light.

development-and-maturation curve.

New York as seamless and successful as

It was an easy decision to live with one of my best friends, who is passionate about and committed to the same things that I am. I’ve relied on him for support and guidance along the way, and I’m sure he would say that he derives similar value out of me as a friend.

What has surprised you the most about living on your own?

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Jeffrey: Honestly, it really wasn’t a huge change to live on my own. I lived in an apartment setting for most of college so the whole responsibility and freedom thing never really surprised me.

The one thing I definitely had to get acclimated to was budgeting myself.

Having a steady income stream for the first time was exciting, but I realized that after the fixed costs of rent, food, New

possible. He always had my back and I his, so I never felt like I was going through anything alone and always had someone to sanity check my every move.

Ok, guys. Let’s get down and dirty.

We all want to know who does the dishes and household chores now that you’re out on your own. Who takes out the trash? Does anyone clean? Who pays the bills?

Matt: Living on your own in the real

York state taxes (or robbery), as well as

world is just a wholly different experi-

my personal savings and investing goals,

Jeffrey: Working late nights and odd

ence than any other I’ve had. The level

there really wasn’t too much left over.

hours, we wanted a place to ease the

of general responsibility skyrockets in

Understanding how to spend and

everyday responsibilities around the

the blink of an eye. There’s much more

manage your money appropriately is

apartment. Full-service amenities —

autonomy, which can be scary. But when

something I think all young adults should

throwing trash down the chute, having

you’re going through it with one of your

be well-versed on. Again, having Matt as

laundry service on the first floor, as exam-

best friends, it’s easy to confide in each

my confidante was a major key to making

ples — are big wins for me. You need to

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figure out what you want and what you’re

But it’s followed by four days of nonstop

willing (and able) to afford.

action, leaving every night around 2 a.m.

Luckily for us, we don’t need to do

Citigroup has a “no-Saturday” policy,

much cooking, given the number of meals

meaning unless you receive an exception,

we eat at the office (that doesn’t really

which typically only occurs during very

sound lucky, now that I think about it).

time-sensitive and important projects,

Saving some money early comes in handy when you have to buy furniture for the apartment or pay off other expenses that creep up on you. They always do!

Matt: We split everything. We don’t formalize it. It just happens. If I’m home early, I’ll clean. If Jeffrey is, he’ll clean.

We split all the bills. This is where Venmo comes in handy!

What’s on the walls? Any sign of Brunswick?

Matt: I idolize LeBron James and live and breathe the Cavaliers and Indians, so we’ll start there. Dartmouth baseball and BC football gear are a close second. Brunswick photos are all over our bedrooms — old photos, new photos, graduation photos, etc.

We’re starting to venture into the “let’s put some cool artwork on our walls”

you are a free man from 10 p.m. on Friday until 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Friday nights are typically more low-key, as I’m recovering from the work week. Saturdays (are for the boys) are when we get to turn off the Blackberry, decompress, walk around outside, and enjoy the city.

I love to meet up with friends whom I don’t get to see at all during the week, and really enjoy being a 23-year-old living in New York City.

I also think it’s important to try to find something you are interested in to take your mind off of work and keep you going when you face some adversity.

Friends are definitely a great outlet and spending time with them is my number-one goal when I have free time

Henkel and Jay can find Citi bikes and dry cleaning options all throughout the Big Apple and nearby their apartment, where they often decompress after work in front of the TV.

on the weekends. But I also like to run and lift weights, do yoga, Qigong, medi-

territory, but that’s very much a work in progress!

Jeffrey: The Brunswick pillow with the gold seal is a must in every household. I love that thing.

Take us through a typical day — and a weekend.

Jeffrey: I don’t want to scare anyone who might be interested in a career in investment banking because I truly think it’s one of the most valuable experiences anyone graduating from college and interested in financial services could have. But I’ll give a brief and candid description of a typical week: Work starts at 10 a.m. on Monday.

Believe me, I know that sounds cushy.

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Better and Oberbeck take the stairs as they venture out to meet friends for brunch, beers, and NFL playoff football on a Saturday in January.

tation, or read a good book if I have the

unpredictable. But, here goes: I’m up at

time. I’ve certainly realized the impor-

7 a.m. for a workout (having a gym in

tance of staying healthy and maintaining

the building is a big perk). I jump on the

each day, trying to coordinate when we’ll

a clear and strong mind as I’m grinding

subway between 9 and 9:30 a.m. And I

each be back at the apartment so we can

away at the desk. On Sunday, it’s typically

spend my office time hitting the checklist

have some all-important decompression

back to the office.

of tasks for the day (which tends to pile

time.

up as the hours go by). Nighttime is really

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dinner at the office almost every night.

Jeffrey and I are in contact throughout

If it’s super late, we’ll throw the TV on

Matt: It’s really tough to describe a

hard to predict, so I won’t even try — but

for a bit and catch up on the day. Or, on

“typical day,” as each one is pretty

to give you a good sense of things, I eat

the off chance it’s relatively early, we’ll

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A nighttime view of Abington Place on the High Line in Chelsea, where Henkel and Jay call home.

on a day-to-day basis can be credited to my time at Brunswick. I had some really fantastic teachers, coaches, mentors, and friends along the way.

I think living with a ’Wick alum makes sense because for the most part, alumni of Brunswick are very like-minded. We have a lot of the same values and guiding principles, are passionate about similar things, and pretty much consider each There are some nights when I’ll get dinner with a friend I met through Jeffrey, and other nights when I’ll come home and Jeffrey is hanging on the couch with a bunch of my Dartmouth friends.

We joke that he’s now better friends than I am with my Dartmouth buddies, and vice versa. grab a six pack or we’ll go meet up with some friends.

You need to take advantage of any downtime you get!

Usually, I’ll need to spend some time in the office on the weekend, so I’ll typically try to spread any weekend work out in my downtime (i.e. some on Saturday, some on Sunday). I like that flexibility.

My biggest priority outside of work is spending time with friends, and I think Jeffrey would agree. Between Brunswick, Dartmouth, and BC, we’ve got a massive collective crew here in Manhattan.

It’s been so much fun getting to know Jeffrey’s BC crowd, and even more fun

Is there anything relevant to your time at Brunswick that’s gotten you here? Why did you choose to live with a Brunswick alum?

Matt: Of course! Brunswick literally raised me from age six and taught me a lot about what it really means to be a man.

Countless teachers along the way pushed me to challenge myself, take risks, be intellectually curious and have an insatiable appetite and hunger for learning. Countless coaches taught me the importance of outworking the person standing next to me, taught me how to be a team player and to know what kind of role to take and when, and taught me the power of determination, mental toughness, and grit.

other family.

How were you able to stay close with each other throughout your time apart in college?

Jeffrey: I think Matt and I got even closer throughout our time apart in college. We both matured a lot and grew into real adults during these years.

We would catch up on a fairly regular basis. Our conversations evolved from whose parents were out of town the coming weekend to our current commitments at school and the upcoming job process.

Matt: I don’t think it came as a surprise to either of us that we stayed close throughout the time apart in college.

We’d video chat and FaceTime all the time — I’d want to hear about what he’d been up to (football, social life, academics, job search, etc.) and vice versa.

He’d visit me, and I’d visit him.

Dartmouth and BC aren’t too far apart geographically, so it was pretty easy.

Jeffrey and I have known each other since our first days at Brunswick. We’ve chosen to live with each other because

seeing him get close with my Dartmouth

Jeffrey: Much of who I am today as a man

we’re best friends, thanks in large part to

friends. It’s really become one big group.

and how I live my life and carry myself

our shared experiences at Brunswick.

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