Oak Park-River Forest senior Jahmari Moore traveled overseas for the first time in his life this summer.
When Moore arrived in Dublin on June 29, he was immediately thrown off by the time change. Moore was supposed to sleep on the flight from O’Hare Airport, but couldn’t. When Moore’s plane landed, it was 5 a.m., but back in Chicago, it was 11 p.m.
“The plan ride was hectic,” Moore said. “I had a hard time trying to sleep. When I got there, it was the longest day ever.”
Moore has traveled across the United States before, but this summer trip was unlike any other experience for the middle linebacker. Moore was part of a group of nearly two dozen OPRF students and faculty who spent two weeks in Ireland for a dual-faceted trip. The group spent one week sightseeing around the countryside and the second week attending the James Joyce Summer School at Joyce’s alma mater, the University College Dublin.
The group’s first night was spent in a hostel in Galway, where the students visited the home of Joyce’s wife, Nora Barnacle.
The trip is organized through OPRF’s English Department. Teachers Brendan Lee, Jay Lind and Emily Steffen chaperoned. The English Department organizes the trip every other year in odd-numbered years. The trip lasted from June 29 to July 12. The students also visited the Aran Islands and a 15th-century castle in Doolin.
“We saw so many places and … they drive on a different side of the road,” Moore said. “You have to be careful when you cross the street. The people there were so nice. It got dark around 10 o’clock. There was still light out around that time.”
Before taking the trip, each student had to read at least one of Joyce’s books and could choose from “Dubliners,” “Ulysses” or “Finnegans Wake.” Moore chose “Dubliners,” a collection of short stories published by the Irish author in 1914.
At the University College, Moore and his classmates attended lectures and seminars and participated in workshops while studying Joyce’s work over a five-day span. After returning, the students could earn three college credits for attending the school after writing an essay about Joyce’s work.
“It was life changing,” Moore said.
In a school blog devoted to the Ireland trip, Moore is pictured as a guest lecturer in front of a class of students at University College Dublin.
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Moore’s commitment to activities outside of football doesn’t surprise his coaches, such as football coach John Hoerster or track and field coach Tim Hasso.
“I think he’ll be president of the United States someday,” said Hasso, who also serves as Moore’s position coach during the football season. “He’s a deep thinker. He’s easy to communicate with. He handles all of our [play] calls as our Mike [middle] linebacker.”
Moore tried out for Hasso’s track and field team for the first time in the spring to keep in shape for football season. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Moore even competed in the discus and shot put because the team needed someone there.
Due to the trip, Moore missed summer practices with the OPRF football team and could not attend the West Suburban Conference 7-on-7 passing challenge on July 9 at Addison Trail. He listed Northern Illinois as the only Division I school taking a look at him for a college career.
“He is really a super kid,” Hoerster said. “He has his priorities straight. For him, it’s academics first and he’s determined to keep football second. His attitude is always the same. It’s upbeat and positive. He has an energetic attitude. I bet every faculty [member] at OPRF knows him. Everyone knows Jahmari Moore.”
Moore is one of four captains for the Huskies this season with junior defensive lineman Allen Stallings, senior running back Antonio Cannon and offensive lineman James Cousin.
Twitter: @geomwilcox