Pathfinder: Where did you go to high school?
Parrish: I went to Parkway North High School.
How was high school similar/different to high school now?
It was really diverse and focused on being your own person. There was a lot of individualism and different mindsets. Parkway West has altruism and being a community.
What year did you graduate?
I graduated in 2006.
Were you involved in any sports or clubs? What did you like about it?
I did soccer, volleyball, and was part of the choir and theatre clubs.I was part of a social club called The Divine Force. I like being active and expressive.
What is the funniest thing that happened during high school?
We had a badminton tournament for Philanthropy to raise money for charity for a cause. I remember the badminton tournament being an absolute blast.
What were your favorite and least favorite subjects during high school? Why?
My least favorite subject was Biology because it didn’t come naturally to me. My favorite subjects were Choir and Drama because I found a real passion for music and performance and found out that’s what I want to do for my career.
How would your peers describe you in high school?
My peers would describe me as friendly and energetic.
How would your teachers describe you in high school?
My teachers would describe me energetic and social.
Did you have an after school job? If so, what is it?
I worked as the groundskeeper at the Creve Coeur Golf Course.
What did you do at your job?
I took care of the golf course like mowing the grass every Thursday, mowing the greens every Monday, and picked up sticks after a storm.
How much did you make in an hour?
I made $7.25 an hour.
What type of car did you drive?
I drove a blue Honda Civic.
Did you buy it yourself? If not, who bought for you?
I did not buy my car, but it was my parents’ car.
Describe what it looked like.
It was blue, stick shift, and it had many paint chips and dents.
Do you remember what gas prices were back then?
It was below $1.00, the price was $.79.
What is your craziest driving moment?
I was driving and it snowed. It was plowed but they didn’t do the best job. I couldn’t go more than 20 mph on the road. It was slick and I was going to turn and the car didn’t turn; it went straight and I went off the road into the snow. I had to be towed out.
![Passing out candy to her friends, sophomore Fiona Corell smiles in her spirit wear. Corell showed up to school in her Rudolph onesie so she could not only spread joy and spirit but also stay comfortable. “It was a lot of fun dressing up and spreading school spirit [because] it gives our school a chance to gain unity. It was a comfy outfit. It kept me warm all day, and it channeled the energy of Rudolph,” Corell said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/image6-1200x785.jpg)
![The senior boys dress in suits and jerseys to cheer on the Powder Puff competitors. Senior Derrien Gatchel initiated the suit trend last Powder Puff season. “The thought process was [to pretend we were dressing for] a business trip. Since we won last year, we had to do it again this year,” Gatchel said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/unnamed-56.jpg)
![Right foot in and arms wrapping around her teammates, freshman Hayden Oakley mentally prepares to race. Oakley ran in the freshman race in the Stan Nelson Invitational at the Northwest Early Childhood Center, Sept. 10. “Before [the race,] I was a little nervous because it was only the second [meet,] it was bigger, and there were a lot of people there. When we went into the huddle, that helped motivate and calm me down. [Also,] it was nice because it just made me feel more confident about the race,” Oakley said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Hayden-Oakley-900x600.jpg)
![“[I think being a teacher comes] from a place of experience, where we all enjoyed high school. It had a meaningful impact on us, which was [the case] for me. I had a lot of good mentors in high school, and seeing the opportunity, the impact that they could make, I think [that was] what inspired me. [It] definitely goes back to one teacher in particular [that] I had in eighth grade, he was a huge role model for me, and somebody who I was so appreciative of what he did for me. I figured if I could do even a fraction of what he did I feel like I would be very fulfilled [in] myself, and so there's just that aspect of wanting to do something meaningful every day.” - Kaleb Schumer, English](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_9428-1200x800.jpeg)
![Looking out into the audience, senior Jack Mullen solos “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Frank Sinatra at the annual winter choir concert on Dec. 10. Mullen volunteered to sing a solo to aid the transition between choir groups on stage. “I chose that song because I really like the crooner genre when it comes to holiday music. [That song] had all the element[s] of Michael bublé, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. Also, it's a simple melody, so I did vocal gymnastics when I could and made it my own,” Mullen said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/jackedited-1200x800.jpg)
![“Hitting that ball hard is just pure satisfaction. I’m on the varsity tennis team, and it’s funny because I actually got pressured into joining, but we actually [had] a really good season. I’ve been playing for three years now. My favorite part is definitely going to other schools and meeting other girls. Tennis is really fun and it's a good stress reliever, but something that [stresses me out] is definitely tests [at school]. When things [start to] stress me out, I just tell myself that [I] can get there because everyone will move on and [will] get there [too].” Alisha Yin, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/alishayin-copy-1200x800.jpg)
![Under the hoop, senior Chloe Kallaos and the cheer team line up before they begin their cheer routine on Feb. 10. The seniors celebrated by wearing t-shirts that each underclassmen made for them. “My shirt was made by one of my teammates, [sophomore] Elizabeth Knott. It’s a tradition for the underclassmen to make t-shirts for the seniors to wear on their senior night. In my sophomore year, I made one for Madi Nuernberger and Sami Milholland,” Kallaos said. “My favorite part was seeing my fellow seniors fly when some of them don't normally get the chance to fly. It was fun to see my friends try new skills,” Kallaos said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Image_20240217_231546_661-1.jpeg)
![Holding his two smiling daughters in his arms, Principal John McCabe celebrates earning his doctorate degree. He attended Maryville University for two years and reached his goal of achieving a Doctor of Education: Educational Leadership degree after months upon months of hard work and long nights. “I'm not going to lie, I'm glad I have another night of my life back when I'm not at school till very late,” McCabe said. “I can spend more time with my family and with my friends [who] are here at [West]. I'm really happy about that.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mccabefeature.png)
