Class of 2020 Alumnus Runs Between Cross Country Meets and Hospital Shifts

“Being the assistant coach has worked out well for my schedule,” said John. “It’s busy, but I've gotten used to it. I wake up, study for the MCATs, go to cross country practice, and then work at the hospital in the evening. I’m a patient care associate at Yale New Haven Health on the pulmonary step-down floor. It’s more critical than a normal unit, but less intensive than the ICU.”

Cross Country Coach and current science teacher Aiden Clark-Long knew John was in town and reached out to him.

“He said he needed an assistant coach,” recalled John. “And I told him ‘I'm still here in Connecticut, and I’d be happy to join his team.’”

John had a big decision to make after he graduated from Penn State in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science degree in neurobiology.

”I was on the fence of applying to medical or physician assistant (PA) schools,” recalled John. “Initially, I wanted to apply to medical schools, but lots of factors go into that decision. I’ve since switched to the PA route because of the time commitment and wanting more hands-on experience with patients.”

John is currently studying for the MCATs and taking virtual anatomy and physiology classes at Johns Hopkins University and a microbiology lab class at Gateway Community College in New Haven. He will then take the MCATs and apply to PA programs in April.

“Ultimately, I want to work in a pediatric ICU,” said John. “When I was in college, I shadowed a pediatric surgeon, and it was a great experience. On Day 1, when I walked into the hospital, I was like, ‘I love this.’”

John ran cross country for Hamden Hall in high school and his freshman year at Penn State.

“My freshman year was difficult during Covid,” recalled John. “I was very uncertain of how things were going to go with all the protocols, and I did not like training without an actual race to compete in. So, I did not continue running in my second year at Penn State.”

John said he's found it a little strange moving from student to coach at Hamden Hall.

“It’s been different - and funny,” said John. “I still call everyone Mr. Fontana and Mr. Christman. He even came up to me and said, ‘you know, you don't have to call Mr. Chrisman.’ But it’s hard to call him Brian. It’s the same with the students and me. They'll have to say my name multiple times. I'm not used to hearing Mr. Bazaar or Coach Bazaar. It’s always been John. So now, I have to tune my brain into hearing that.”

John loves cross country and now has a new perspective on the sport.

“I've missed not being part of a team,” reflects John. “I miss racing, but, as the coach, I’m more focused on making sure they have their racing bibs, warm up, and get to the start line on time. Once the race starts, that’s when their anxiety ratchets up and mine goes down.”

He further explained that coaching cross country is different from other sports.

“We’re not on the sidelines, like football,” said John. “We're helping them with times and running workouts. Once the race starts, I cheer them on and try to find things to motivate them, to keep them focused on the race, to push them that little bit faster. When I was running, I always liked to have time checks. So, that's what I try to do. I’ll say, ‘Person X is 10 seconds in front of you! Keep pushing!’”

John said he can also relate to the students he helps coach on the cross country team.

“We have similar schedules,” he said. “Students are studying at school and I'm studying at home; and, at the end of practice, we're both physically and mentally exhausted.”