Jonathan Bryson by Sarah Engstrand
3rd Year
Bath/Kenya/Tanzania
Theology and Biblical Studies (MTheol)
Jonathan, or JB as his friends call him, found himself in St Andrews, “completely by accident”. In a similar fashion to our last Cutie, Oxbridge reject JB had applied on a whim, “I put down my first four choices, assuming I’d get into one of them, and then I thought, ‘oh, St Andrews…that’s quite a good Uni, I’ll pop that down as well.’ I got into two of those five, and thought, I don’t want to go to ________* it’s awful! So I came up to St Andrews on an open day… and that was it; I was in.” I took that to mean that he had fallen in love with the Uni on his visit, but I was cheekily corrected, “I didn’t really ‘fall in love’, but more I thought, ‘eh-it’s better than ______” which was swiftly followed by a laugh and an ‘oh my days, I should be careful about what I say’ upon the realization of his being recorded.
Although St Andrews started off as a fifth-choice-second-thought option, JB has grown to love the small town, and the sense of community that comes with it. “The smallness is the best part, and the worst. You get to know so many different people from different areas, and societies…but when a small bit of drama kicks off? Ugh.” Beyond the size, JB notes the strangeness of the town—the phenomenon that is St Andrews—as something he loves, ”In St Andrews, things that aren’t really fun in the ‘real world’ become fun. Like, nowhere else in the world would you have an A cappella concert that is, basically, the biggest deal ever. Yet in St Andrews, around the Voice Festival nothing else matters. The whole town shuts down. Things that aren’t mainstream fun become mainstream fun—like Raisin! Who thought of that?”
Having moved frequently as a child as a result of his parent’s work, St Andrews is also a site of stability for JB, who, upon graduation, will have lived here longer than any other place. “I used to watch Harry potter actually, and be quite sad that Harry got to go through seven or eight years of school with two friends; and I never had that experience. Every two or three years we were moving house, or moving place, or moving schools, so I have had lots of different friends. To that end, I was a bit, ‘oh no, other people get life friends, and I only seem to have friends for a season,’ but that of course changes when you come to St Andrews, because you’re here for four years, and it’s wonderful.”
Though you wouldn’t know it from his Bath accent, JB grew up in east Africa from the time he was eight until he was sixteen. His father, the son of a missionary, grew up in Kenya, and he and his wife moved there to teach, taking the young JB with them. “In our heads, we all have a picture of the ‘missionary kid’ or the ‘teachers kid’…but I don’t think I fit that bill. It [living in Kenya] has given me a massive appreciation for the fact that people are so different. I mean, if I had grown up in Bath all my life, all I would know is how Bath works.”
JB has taken full advantage of his semi-permanent position here at the University, and is one of those people just knows everyone, partly through his involvement in the Christian Union (CU) and the Rugby Club (RFC), and partly because of his magnetic personality. He has only just returned to the RFC after a year’s hiatus after a badly rolled ankle, “it made all the bad noises of when you cut a chicken at Christmas…”, and is looking forward to the rest of the season, and hopes to end it back on one of the teams, “I really missed the guys…you have a real withdrawal from it, it’s a good sport, the socials are great…it’s exhilarating, it’s primal, there’s nothing else like it.”
In addition to Rugby, JB is incredibly involved in the CU, and leads a home group for the Vineyard church, “it’s like a mini church on a Wednesday evening. It’s a really chilled, laid back environment. It’s hilarious and breaks every preconception of church…it’s hilarious, we just sit around and drink tea, banter for a few hours, sing a few songs…it’s brilliant.” Faith is obviously a very big part of JB’s life, and he’s very passionate about it, however he has no intentions of going into the Church professionally, “I don’t want to be Minister JB, you know? Actually, we had a careers advisor come in last year and say to us, ‘So, theology…basically, you can work in the Church, or Café Nero.’ And I was like, ‘Crap! I don’t want to do either!’ I love Christians, but if you spend too much time with only Christians, it can get too safe, and too cozy. I don’t want to hide in a Christian bubble.” At the moment, JB is looking towards a career in consultancy and management in London, “I love a thriving metropolis”, he says smiling, “Which is odd, because I’m in St Andrews…”
Those who know him might be surprised to learn that JB was quite the thespian in his younger years, performing lead roles in Sweeney Todd (“I was the demon barber; I grew out my hair and killed people. Method acting, you know? …joking!”), Tony from West Side Story, and ‘Elvis Pharaoh’ from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Also musically inclined, he played the trumpet and piano at school to grade six. Comfortable in the spotlight, and very charismatic, it’s not startling that JB was an actor, but more so that he isn’t any longer, not after a brief foray into the Mermaids in first year. ‘If there was one thing I regret, it’s not having gotten involved in acting here.” JB doubts he’ll restart acting, now that he is in third year and involved in the rugby club and the CU, but he did give it a last push. “I auditioned for the Other Guys and didn’t get in,” which is hilarious, considering his flatmate was Richard Phillips, a member of the group.
Even though he isn’t performing for the masses anymore, JB still has a strong love of music. ‘In the old flat, we [Richard and JB] used to sing harmonies all the time. He’d play the guitar, and we’d just sing…there are few things nicer than hitting a really good harmony. You hear three chords just click in place and you’re like, ‘oh! Come on!’” Growing up in Kenya, JB has always had a love of R&B, (“you wouldn’t think it when you look at me, but I absolutely love it!”) JB also dabbles in the guitar, and stole hearts in the 2010 Mr. Uni Hall Competition, with his cover of Tenth Avenue North’s ‘By Your Side’. Among other things, JB credits Richard for widening his musical tastes, “from the cinematic orchestra to the Les Miserable’s soundtrack. I actually uploaded my first essay listening to the Les. Mis. soundtrack, holding my laptop up like Simba…but sometimes I’ll pop on Skrillex…I like everything, except for Reggae!”
Recently single, JB reveals he is not as keen as his somewhat flirty personality may imply, “I’m not the sort of guy to rush on from one thing to the next; I like to have a bit of space. But of course, if I met someone tomorrow who I thought was lovely, I’d consider asking her on a date.” He admits relationships can be tricky for him, as they are for most people, but has a strong sense of what is important and what isn’t. “If you go into a relationship seeking fulfillment, that can be quite a dangerous place to go, because you drain energy instead of giving it. You have to be in place of giving.” He also feels you have to be confident in yourself, and is attracted to quietly self-assured girls who know how wonderful they are, “if you know you’re great, that’s really attractive.” His favorite part of being in a relationship is having someone to be oneself around, and to be with someone who “completely gets me as a person…the best relationship I have with a girl is actually with my sister, because it’s a safe place…there’s no pressure; it’s really nice.”
Two and a quarter years after falling in ‘eh’ with St Andrews, JB insists, “I wouldn’t have changed it for the world.” I’m sure many people feel the same way. Having known JB since first year, I know I do. He is one of the kindest, most open people I have ever met. Always up for a laugh, but never content with the superficial, he is the rare type who strives to know people as fully as he can, and for who they truly are. Anyone who knows him will agree he simply shines, and his enthusiasm for life and for living is contagious (and somewhat annoying when you have to write an article about it). Her Campus wishes him the best of luck with his degree, and his marathons—thanks for your time JB!
Rapid Fire Round
What’s a good night in for you: As much as I like being active: playing rugby, going to the gym, running, I love nights at home with the boys playing Play Station, hanging out—a good night in, but not in a Bridget Jones and ice cream way! A couple of drinks, really good friends, maybe a dinner party that goes on for far too long—you know the dinners you plan to end at 10, and then it’s 2am and music is playing and everyone is dancing?
Good night out: It’s always fun to go out for a couple of drinks. It’s nice to talk to people I don’t see so much. I’m not going to go out and get lashed, because that’s not how I do things. I will enjoy a good number of drinks with a good number of friends and have some fun. A lot of people have these misconceptions of the ‘sober friend’ but I really love ending up out with drunk friends. You’re the one who gets all the stories! It’s a really good laugh.
Little known fact: I used to run long distance for Kenya, you could spot me a mile away, I was the only white guy there. I once ran a 5k in sixteen minutes when I was seventeen… I’m doing the Edinburgh half and the Bath half soon… you get to raise money for charity and have a laugh—it’s a good cause. One of my friend’s mom’s died of breast cancer, and one of my cousins died of a brain tumor, so it’s something that has really affected our family, and it’s something I want to be able to give back to. **
Second little known fact: The necklace JB has worn around his neck for the past several years is the horn of a Dik-dik, a small deer-like animal from Africa. “It used to be my favorite animal when I was a kid…some heartless guy in Kenya must have gone out and ripped one of these horns off…and then I stuck it on my neck! It’s actually a fertility thing…no, I’m joking. I don’t need any help…no no! I’m joking!”
Favorite restaurant: Right now? This bagel [we were feasting on the bacon, cranberry bagel at Northpoint—I highly recommend it to everyone!]. but I’m going to say the Café in the Square. The soup there is super cheap, super easy, and it’s secret and hidden away. I love that they don’t take cards there as well! It is a bit of a hipster café in that way, I just love that. It’s cozy, and it’s warm.
Favorite place to go for a drink: Afternoon drinks with friends, probably the Vic, and then in the evening maybe the Westport.
Biggest fear: It’s not really a fear, so much as a motivation. I don’t want to look back at the end of my life, and realize I haven’t done anything. I’ve been gifted with so much…that I would regret not doing anything, or using the opportunities I had to give back. It’s not a fear though, fears should never rule you.
Time wasters: The flat has a Play Station 3, and a massive flat screen, so there’s that. But also, I’ll make myself a good cup of coffee—a nice cafetière—I actually have a subscription to coffee of the month…I’ll meet with friends, go for run, go the gym, interview for ‘Campus Cutie’. Sometimes I’ll even tidy. Cleaning my room only becomes something I want to do when I have an essay to write….not that I’ve ever made a mess, I’m a clean man!
Funny out of context quotes from the interview:
“It’s all about the abrevs, you know-bants, maybs, potench, fabs…”
“Where Kate met Wills? I think, in brackets, they should put, ‘and Where Hally Met Sally”
“Bath has actually got seven ‘A’s an a couple of ‘R’s in it. If you can throw up a ball, clap three times and then catch it, you’ve said it right.”
“Everyone loves a bit of chest hair, just a bit. Not overflowing amounts…but yea, I just think it compliments the dik-dik.”
“The problem here is, I just make a tit of myself all the time.”
*Hint: It starts with an ‘E’ and ends in a ‘xeter’…
**If you want to donate to JB’s chosen charities, he will be setting up a Facebook page nearer to the time—keep an eye out!
***JB is the one without a tie in the photo, the other good looking gentleman is his academic uncle, Matthew.