Meet Obe Quarless

Whitworth Cadre Three
'09 Graduate (B.A. Music)
Bellarmine Preparatory School '05

Sharing a piece of the island

Before September 2005, hearing the sweet sounds of live Caribbean rhythms playing during Whitworth College receptions, or on street corners in downtown Spokane would have seemed as unlikely as palm trees in Eastern Washington. These days, however, the Spokane and Whitworth community are enjoying island music and culture because when Obe Quarless came to Whitworth, he brought his steel drums with him. Since being at Whitworth, Obe has been honored to share his culture as a Trinidadian American, but more importantly his unique perspectives and talents as a student leader.

The most popular outsider

As a Bellarmine Preparatory School student, Obe was a motivated musician, three sport varsity athlete, and student government official, but at lunch - also known as social hour in high school - "I ate by myself for four years." So why did a guy with all the characteristics required for winning a high school popularity contest eat alone rather than cash in on his many talents? "I feel like people saw me a lot, but only a few people actually knew me," he explains. In high school, Obe was always busy with extracurricular activities and helping people do whatever needed to be done, but rarely did he make time to build and maintain friendships.

Finding balance

As an Act Six student at Whitworth, Obe has continued to stay active, but most importantly he has found balance and comfort in his role as a leader in his community. "At Whitworth I made a conscious effort to take a step back, learn to say, 'no,' and focus on the things I truly want to focus on," Obe says. Though he has found greater balance in life, two activities, music and football, have made this task extremely difficult. "I had to make a decision about what I want to pursue even though I like them both," he says. Joining the Associated Students of Whitworth University as the Athletic Events Coordinator, has allowed him to be indirectly involved in all sports and also pursue music full time.

Relational leadership

Obe believes that being involved in the Act Six program has changed his definition of leadership to a more relational focus. This developing perspective is evident in his description of what he feels to be his greatest impact on the Whitworth campus. "I have been able to challenge people to consider alternatives to situations that they've never thought of before," he says. "I believe there is a strong correlation between being an ethnic minority and an opinion minority." As one of the few black students on campus, Obe has built relationships that have served to bridge gaps between diverse perspectives. "Being comfortable with my own opinions has made it easy for me to communicate that with others in situations where I've been outnumbered."

A future star

After Whitworth, Obe will continue leading others as he uses his musical talents and love for sharing with others as a teacher. "I plan to teach music at the secondary and the collegiate level," he says. As a Music Education major with a Leadership Studies minor, Obe will have academic credentials to pursue his career goals; however, it is his passion for people and undeniable talent that inspire others most. Along the way, Obe also plans to continue pleasing his fans as a steel drum recording artist and live performer. Whether in the classroom, the studio, or on stage, Obe is a star who will shine and share his light with students and fans alike.

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