Healey Entertained by Everything CBA Offers

When Charlie Healey '26 looks back at his decision to attend Christian Brothers Academy, he remembers one distinct thing from an initial visit, a foreshadowing of sorts to his time at CBA.

“I saw the Pipes & Drums on the welcome day,” he recalls. “My mom said ‘you’re coming here and you’re doing that.’”

Fast forward to the spring of his senior year, Healey has been a dedicated member of the CBA Pipes & Drums Band, learning the pipes during his freshman year and developing into a leader of the band by his final year. 

“With Pipes & Drums, if you told me four years ago that I would march in four New York City [St. Patrick’s Day] Parades, marching on fifth ave., St. Pat’s [Cathedral] is right there, I would have told you that you were crazy.”

The Matawan native was already used to a Catholic school environment, graduating from St. Benedict School in Holmdel. His transition to CBA was aided by pushing himself to meet people and try new things. 

His time in the band was just one of several things that he is proud to have been involved in at the Academy. He played freshman soccer, spent a year on the golf team, jumped in the ocean with the first organized surf team, and served as a manager of the hockey team. 

“There are so many things to get involved in here as long as you apply yourself,” he says. “I pride myself on having a great list of extracurriculars.”

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Of course, Healey has worked hard in the classroom as well, coming a long way from his initial days as a freshman. However, those early courses helped him understand what kind of effort was needed at CBA. 

“Freshman year was a really big adjustment, but taught me time management,” he remembers. “I was always really good at math, but then I had Honors Algebra II-Trig during sophomore year. It was one of my toughest classes, but helped me work harder.”

By senior year, Healey was taking multiple AP classes, eventually earning himself an acceptance to Villanova University. When he heads out to Pennsylvania in the fall, he will join both his parents as members of the Villanova community. 

“I knew I wanted to be within driving distance and not a huge school,” he says. “I wanted business [programs], so I started looking. I did [Mr. Brennan’s] Application Academy over the summer and I walked out of there ready to submit applications, so I did Early Decision to Villanova.”

With plenty to look back on from his CBA career, Healey has nothing but good advice for students who are following in his footsteps.

“I would say try and be entertained by anything and everything. I’ve been on every type of trip. I went to an art museum with my AP Art History class. I get to go to Mass. I get to go on Retreat. I have the privilege of being a Colt Crazy. Get involved and be entertained by everything, and know that you have it pretty good.”