Part of the collegiate experience is meeting new people and making new friends, so it isn't unusual to make a lifelong friend on a college campus.
 
As a four-year letterman on the Misericordia University football team, Justin Connolly '19 certainly developed plenty of friendships and long-lasting memories with his teammates and his mass communications and design classmates.
 
Following his playing career (2014-17), Connolly spent the 2018-19 season managing the livestream operations for the athletics department and covering the football team's historic run to an 8-3 record and their first postseason berth.
 
Connolly, however, formed a unique bond his last few years at Misericordia that makes March 21 – World Down Syndrome Day – special. 
 
That bond is Connolly's friendship with Patrick Cleary, a Dallas native, who spent two decades as an employee in the Misericordia athletics and facilities departments.
 
Cleary, who has Down syndrome, was working in Anderson Center during Connolly's senior season and the pair discovered their mutual like for professional wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
 
"I was in the Anderson fitness center where Patrick was working and he noticed my WWE t-shirt," said Connolly.  "He approached me and mentioned how much he liked WWE wrestling and our friendship grew out of that."
 
Connolly, who went on to earn his master's degree at William Paterson, currently serves as the Head Sports Information Director at fellow MAC Freedom member FDU-Florham.
 
Despite be separated by miles, the two friends share regular phone calls.  "Pat and I still talk at least once a week to discuss WWE," said Connolly.  "We both look forward to the call every week."
 
While it's a myth that individuals with Down syndrome are always happy, Cleary and those like him do possess a brighter outlook than most.
 
"Patrick's attitude, laughter and demeanor brought a smile to everyone in the Anderson Center building during his time there," said Connolly.  "My friendship with him is a blessing that means everything to me.  I believe that I am better person because of him."
 
While he has many fond memories of his time at Misericordia, his friendship with Cleary is near the top of Connolly's list.  "I have a lot of things to be thankful for from my time at Misericordia," he said.  "One of those blessings is the lifelong friendship that I made with Patrick Cleary."