"It's not just me; it's a village. But I think we have done a good job this year of creating moments that are particularly impactful. We need that so people feel valued and come back. Every kid that walks out is a minimum of two kids in Bangladesh that don't get to go to school. Every kid who walks into the gym is important.”
Jack Phillips ’23 recounts that as a freshman, half the battle was simply finding the courage to enter the boxing ring. Now, he mentors and instructs hundreds of boxers, challenging them as they practice and compete and—most importantly—put thousands of students in Bangladesh through school.
As the senior president of Bengal Bouts, a boxing group started by Knute Rockne in 1920, Jack dedicates his time to leading others to greatness, teaching them discipline and how to confront their fears. He and his vice president, Christian Murray, offer eight practices a week, manage workouts, plan events, and more, often working late into the night.
This year, they have devoted special attention to the underclassmen of the team. While many see boxing as an individual sport, they strive to make it a team effort, fighting together outside of the ring so that each boxer may thrive inside.
"There's no one else in the ring when you're in there, but it's still a team sport. The dorms are great, but boxing is different. It's the size of a dorm, but everyone is there with a shared purpose and interest. There's a launch pad for friendship between strangers. I've met almost all of my best friends through boxing, which will continue long after the season ends, far outside of the ring.”
But as much as he focuses his attention on training others, he keeps in mind the true mission of the team—to help support Bengalis in need.
“The mission of the club is two-fold: first, putting children through school in Bangladesh, and then boxing. But boxing is the vehicle through which we accomplish the other. It's important to have both. You can't separate the two, and you can't forget one or the other.”
Bangladesh suffers from extreme poverty, with 80% of the population making less than two dollars a day. Over the years, the funds raised by the Bengal Bouts have built primary and technical schools as well as health care clinics. They have paid for the education of impoverished high school and college students, providing young men and women with the skills to support their families now and into the future.
"It's not just me; it's a village. But I think we have done a good job this year of creating moments that are particularly impactful. We need that so people feel valued and come back. Every kid that walks out is a minimum of two kids in Bangladesh that don't get to go to school. Every kid who walks into the gym is important.”
Despite his aptitude for both boxing and leadership, Jack did not come initially to Notre Dame with Bengal Bouts in mind. Instead, he attended because of his lifelong love for the school and the desire to be challenged, both academically and as a person.
“Notre Dame has high standards, so it was very motivating. It's been everything I was looking for. It's exceeded my expectations, past what I could have hoped for."
Over the past three and a half years, he’s dealt with difficult situations and decisions, put in countless hours of grueling work for his team, and been challenged in more ways than expected. He is extremely grateful for how this has made him a better person.
"I've been extremely fortunate with the opportunities that have come my way. I've thrown my heart and soul into making sure the boxing program is as great as it can be by being thoughtful with the details and remembering why we do these things.”
Above all, he has been amazed by the generosity and authenticity of his peers. Inspired by them, he wants to take the spirit of Notre Dame with him as he begins a job in investment when he graduates in May.
"The authenticity of the people I've come to know here has given back to me in ways I never expected. It gives back, and that stood out to me. The person I want to be for the rest of my career is someone who treats others well.”
Until his graduation, Jack intends to continue to throw himself into the ring with his fellow boxers, working hard to build community and mentor others so that they may reach their full potential alongside their brothers and sisters in Bangladesh.
For Now. Forever. For Good.
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