Many Redwings would argue that no student makes as big an impact on the Benet community than the SG President. This year, the SG President is senior Brian Mietus. Each day, Mietus puts in the work to unify and excite the Benet community. He does this despite his dedication to his school work and participation in numerous sports and clubs. Though Mietus’ time at Benet is wrapping up, his influence on the school will surely remain, and the lessons Benet has taught him will propel him to much future success.
Before Benet, Mietus attended Cass Junior High School in Darien. In addition to soccer, his main sport, Mietus participated in taekwondo for a few years and swam for seven years. He first started skiing at three years old. Six years later, he switched to snowboarding, which he calls the “best decision ever.” While not staying active, Mietus greatly enjoyed gaming.
Mietus’ brother graduated from Benet and enjoyed his time there. Mietus also wanted to branch out and enter into a new community. Therefore, attending Benet was an easy choice for him. He loves Benet’s community, the competitive spirit of its students, and the passion Redwings have for their academics and extracurricular activities. Serving as class president has allowed Mietus to see this passion up close. He is grateful to all those who help make Benet such a special place.
In addition to his SG role, Mietus is a key member of the soccer team, having participated in it since freshman year. He played volleyball as a freshman and is considering rejoining the team this year. Mietus is also an important member of DECA, Investment Club, NHS, and Engineering Club. Outside of school, he is involved with his Polish school, St. Fabian. Mietus’ Polish identity is very important to him, as shown by his fluency in the Polish language.
Mietus enjoys going to the gym, watching college sports, and seeking challenges. Going to restaurants such as Fogo de Chão is a special treat for him, as Mietus loves steak. He also savors Polish foods such as kluksi. Unsurprisingly, Mietus eagerly anticipates traveling to Poland in the summer and to Colorado for ski trips in the winter and the spring. These trips have given him the opportunity to bond with his sister, a sophomore at Benet, and brother. On the long flights to Poland, one might catch Mietus watching The Hangover movie or his favorite show Brooklyn Nine-Nine, as long as none of his favorite sports teams — the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Bulls, the Chicago Fire, FC Barcelona, and all of the University of Michigan’s teams — are playing.
Mietus said, “I bleed blue,” so it is no surprise that he hopes to attend the University of Michigan next year. He would like to become a successful entrepreneur, achieve financial independence at a young age, and use that success to create opportunities for others. He said, “Through my internship at Arbor Way Holdings, I realized how intimidating buying or starting a business can be. I want to build an AI-powered platform that helps everyday people understand financial statements, evaluate businesses and navigate the process of becoming business owners. I imagine someone working a nine-to-five job who has always dreamed of owning a company but never knew where to start. I want to make that dream achievable.” Mietus hopes his impact can be felt beyond the US, as he would like to expand his future business to Poland, with the Góral communities, where his family has roots, being a particular spot of interest for him. Mietus also stated, “Personally, I want to raise a family, be a great husband and father and live a down-to-earth life regardless of my financial success. I want the freedom to travel, spend time with loved ones, maintain lifelong friendship, and stay connected to my Polish roots. I never want to become so focused on making money that I forget to enjoy life.”
Mietus’ time spent as SG President has certainly impacted him. Later in life, he hopes to enter politics and become a public servant. He explained, “I’ve discovered how much I enjoy leadership and bringing people together. I want to use what I’ve learned through business and life to strengthen communities and expand opportunities for future generations. Ultimately, I envision my life in three chapters: building businesses and achieving financial freedom, raising a loving family while giving back to my communities, and eventually serving others through politics. When it’s all over, I don’t want to be remembered for my wealth or titles, but as a good father, loving husband, loyal friend, and someone who never forgot where he came from.”
Mietus has already achieved so much, yet he has remained grounded and focused on his ultimate goal. Though there will certainly be challenges along the way, the example Mietus has set gives Benet no doubt that he will accomplish great things. Benet Student Government is lucky to have him at the helm.
