You wake up from your slumber and look down at your hands, sore from playing too much Valorant and still holding last night’s affogato bowl. You vaguely remember the dream you were having about being at a TXT concert, but it’s starting to fade. You don’t recognize the beige room or how you got here. You start to look around for clues—your neutral-colored Uniqlo wardrobe is splayed out on the floor, a Soul Cups coffee is long cold on your nightstand, and a stuffed fanny pack sits beside you. You stumble around until you find a mirror, and with a smile somehow showing all of your teeth, you realize you are Bryan Wu. Eck-cellent.

You think about everything you know about yourself, the one and only Bryan Wu.

As the former Satire Editor for The Eagle’s Eye, it’s no doubt that Bryan is funny. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on the quality of his jokes) for everyone who knows him, Bryan’s humor isn’t limited to his writing; it’s a core part of who he is overall. Friend and fellow Enloe senior Iris Wang described Bryan as “comedic,” adding that he’s very witty and “quick to think of a joke … his ability to always have something to make people laugh [is inspiring].” Friend Ananya Menon said she’s also fond of Bryan’s humor. “He’s really good at remembering inside jokes,” she said. “He really commits to the bit.” Close friend Ishita Bafna highlighted just how much positivity Bryan’s comicalness brings to his friend group. “We’re always laughing when we are together,” Ishita said. “Bryan is always laughing no matter what, and his laugh is just so contagious, so everyone around him is laughing as well.”

As the resident comedian among his friends, it isn’t surprising that Bryan’s affinity for inside jokes extends to his extracurricular commitments as well. Namely, Bryan serves as FBLA’s only “honorary board member.” While this title isn’t official by any means, it’s a testament to Bryan’s leadership and dedication. As friend and fellow FBLA member Kevin Hu said about Bryan, “he’s really driven. He would always be the one asking to meet … He always had something to contribute in our FBLA meetings.” Kevin said the board position came about “by association, but over time, we just harped on the joke, and now it’s almost official.” Ishita, who serves as FBLA president, also described Bryan’s involvement. “He only joined [FBLA] last year, but I think he has participated and contributed a lot more than other members,” she said. The joke around his board title “speaks to the fact that he doesn’t need a formal title to really be a leader.”

One glimpse into the inner workings of Bryan’s friend group, and his natural leadership abilities are apparent. “He’s very proactive, as in, he likes organizing things,” Kevin said. “He’s always the one that’s on top of things.” Kevin specifically mentioned Bryan organizing many of their friend group’s hangouts.

For his birthday this past year, Bryan asked his friends to put on a talent show instead of giving him tangible gifts. Iris and Ananya sang a song from “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” and Kevin and Ishita both presented videos commemorating their friendship with Bryan. Not only does this unique present idea demonstrate Bryan’s appreciation for talent, but it shows his affection for making fun plans.

It’s clear that Bryan’s knack for coordinating hangouts is a form of care for his friends—he cherishes his friends and spending time with them, so he is happy to take on the role of planner within his community. This care extends beyond organization into physical actions, too. Despite preferring savory foods over sweet ones, Bryan is a big fan of baking. He frequently bakes food for his friends, both on average days and for special occasions. “For my birthday, he made an ube cake with flan on top,” Ananya said, “and he unmolded it live at my birthday party. It tasted so good.”

Luckily for the Enloe population, Bryan’s friends and family aren’t the only ones who get to taste the results of his finesse in the kitchen. As a co-president and co-founder of Enloe Baking Club, Bryan creates opportunities for other Enloe students to try their hand at baking and their taste buds on Bryan’s creations. Baking Club is yet another example of Bryan’s inherent leadership—he saw a hole in Enloe’s extracurricular offerings, and he filled it, leading meetings and thinking through details like which ingredients to purchase. Needless to say, it’s not uncommon to find him on a Target run back to Enloe with dozens of eggs balancing in his hands.

Above all, Bryan is unapologetically himself. For those who know him, this is made clear in his passion for advocating for himself and those he cares about. “Bryan is such a nice person, but when he doesn’t want to do something, he will say no, and that inspires me,” Ananya said. “He prioritizes himself in a good way.”

Bryan’s unwavering personality and passion in his communities make him “truly magnetic,” Iris said. Sharing one of her favorite anecdotes, Iris said, “Something I would remember is him walking down the hallways, and he’s waving hi to everyone … he’s just connected to everyone, and he’s brought a bunch of different groups together through just being him.”

Next year, Bryan will be attending the University of California at San Diego to major in Economics & Math. Before he makes his fearless journey to the West Coast to become one with the Tritons, his friends have some words of advice.

Ananya gave practical guidance about his video game addiction. “He needs to stop mentioning [his gaming],” she said. “He needs to keep it on the down low. He needs to get off Valorant. He needs to get off Honkai: Star Rail. He needs to do a video game detox. Bryan, stop it. Stop it, Bryan.”

Kevin had contrasting words of wisdom. “Keep putting a smile on everyone’s faces,” he said. “Stay true to who you are.” Ishita agreed with Kevin, adding, “Bryan, keep being yourself. You are amazing the way that you are. You are going to do great things in the future. Even if you keep playing knockoff Fortnite, you’ll still hold a special place in my heart, and we’re going to keep meeting up for boba.” While Iris is sad to see her 13 years with Bryan come to an end, she told him, “I hope that you stay as bright and lovely as you are now, and that you find everything you love in California.”

As Bryan prepares to soar away from the Nest, The Eagle’s Eye wishes its News Editor luck and success in all of his future endeavors.

Dear Bryan,

I’ve been aware of you since middle school, since how could you not know who Bryan Wu is, but it wasn’t until freshman CNC when I feel like we got to know each other. You are one of those rare people whose wit and joy for life materialize into everything you do. You are never without a quip to say and a piece of yourself to give to those around you, and it’s a pleasure to work with you and get to experience your outlook on life each day. I know that you will continue to delight the world with your humor and stun them with your talents. I am so grateful to have known you, and particularly your opinions of me, throughout these four years. Fly high, Eagle.

Adios,
Sarah Coltrane

Dear Bryan,

I swear it was yesterday that we were two tiny sophomores sitting in a pod full of intimidating seniors, panicking over chemistry. Many of my favorite memories of you come from us editing articles together over FaceTime, or rather, all of the talking we did in between making comments. I enjoyed parking next to you last year, and I loved our mini conversations through our car windows in which we aggressively pointed at ourselves and each other to figure out who would leave first. I’m constantly in awe of your ability to bring light and laughter into every situation, and I need more of your presence in my life. I don’t know how I’m going to be funny next year without you critiquing my jokes. I’m jealous of all the friends you’re going to make in California, because they’re just starting their four years with Bryan Wu, while mine are ending. They don’t know how lucky they are. Thank you for your edits, your jokes, and for being my friend.

Your forever co-op,
Maya Segal