How Parish prepared me for Year 1 of College

Joe Mehary ‘21 College: Trinity University Major:

Finance

"Succeeding at Parish in high school set the tone for college success. Like most freshmen, I was overwhelmed by the workload and time management skills I needed to navigate a successful experience. I worked very hard and was disciplined, but most importantly I learned the value of resiliency. Because of my Parish experience, I now know there is nothing that I am incapable of.

There were many times in high school that I felt overwhelmed and that I wasn’t capable of doing what was asked of me. At times, I felt I was not as smart as my classmates. I was confused and tired of just missing the mark. However, using the tools Parish taught me and the resources made available to me... I plowed through and was able to get it done. By the time I was a junior, things were coming together. I knew how to manage my time, I knew the expectations of my teachers, and more importantly I knew how to meet and exceed them.

In many ways, the first year of college is a lot like my freshman year at Parish. As a student, you are in a new environment surrounded by many people who you may feel are smarter than you. You no longer have the comfort or security of home, you are alone and have to rely on prior experiences and common interests to meet new people. And for the athletes, most will not be impact-players their first year. Just as Parish taught me, it is normal to feel these things, it is ok to feel some doubt. But you have to lean into that resilience you developed navigating the Parish curriculum and trust the authentic you that blossomed at Parish. You are smart, you are funny, you are likable, you are a talented artist, athlete, actor, writer, etc. Believe in yourself and believe in your values. If you keep trying, you will succeed! TRUST the tools, TRUST the process. You are prepared!"

"Graduating from Parish prepared me for college in more ways than one. I’ve never been more thankful for the study skills I learned and being comfortable meeting with my teachers. First semester is hard as you are learning about yourself and adjusting to a new environment, which makes schoolwork also more difficult. However, my study habits helped me balance time between schoolwork, friends, sorority, football season and so much more. The relationships built with my high school teachers, and the encouragement to attend office hours, gave me the confidence to meet and interact with my college professors. When I struggled with problems in a particular subject or needed feedback on papers, I always felt comfortable discussing with my college professors, thanks to what I practiced at Parish.

Another way Parish prepared me for college was through the ParishBridge program. Throughout the last five weeks of my senior year in high school, I learned time management and how to balance school with other aspects of my life. I knew the specific times I had to be at school and in class, I knew when I had to be at my internship, and I knew how many errands I had to get done for the day. I learned how to balance it all. As I headed into college, I was able to continue what I had learned in the spring before I was in Alabama doing it all myself. I will always be grateful for my time at Parish and everything I was able to gain and learn."