Like the humble caterpillar emerging from his glistening chrysalis, students at St. Louis U. High undergo a transformation and rebirth in their high school years. Before the seniors take flight into the world outside of SLUH, the Prep News has asked a handful of them to reflect on their time here. Their past expectations, their perceptions, their thoughts and feelings are laid out here for under and upperclassmen alike to reflect on and compare to their own experiences, learning from their senior brothers. 

How was SLUH different from what was advertised to you in middle school? 

Carter Murphy: I was always kind of destined to come to SLUH. It’s been a tradition in my family to go to Jesuit high schools. I came into SLUH thinking it was this massive school with massive standards, and as I’m leaving, I’m realizing it’s a lot smaller than that. You can make your own personal community. The expectations are what you set for yourself, but SLUH will always challenge you to exceed them. 

Carson Hall: SLUH was advertised to me as super difficult, but in reality, the school work was very approachable. Yes, I’ve had long nights and difficult classes, yet the teachers put you in situations to succeed.

Nash Raben: (SLUH) is made out to be a lot better than it is, and once you do get here from middle school it’s awesome, it’s fun. But I feel like there can be some things that the school can improve. I think it’s quite expensive as well.

Wilson Scher: Something that is different from what was advertised to me in middle school about SLUH was that it really is a place for everyone, not just for “super smart” people. In that way that it was presented to me, it was said that “everyone here is the cream of the crop” and that “you’ll all be on the same plane,” and “no one will be ‘above’ anyone else.” But I feel like there's definitely an academic hierarchy. There are definitely people who are insanely talented, surpassing everyone else. Not to say that a lot of people here aren’t smart or talented, but there are also a lot of people who surpass others.

Kyren Eleby: In middle school when I first decided to go here, all I kept hearing was about all the hard work and how I wasn’t gonna pass or that there were 30 hours of homework every day. I’ve been here for four years. You do get homework but it’s not 30 hours. It is academically challenging but it’s not as bad as people make it seem as long as you lock in and do the work.

What’s something that you didn’t expect from your time at SLUH?

Michael Williams: I did wrestling all four years and really did not expect to do that. It only happened because I ended up meeting someone here who did it and decided to do it, too. As a senior, I’ve been through more and learned more and definitely become a different person in a way, primarily because of everything I’ve done when it comes to sports and classwork and who I’ve met. 

James Baudendistal: I was surprised at how well everyone gets along with each other and how much people from different grades talk.

Max Travers: I came to SLUH looking for a fresh start, which of course, it was. But as I’ve stayed here, the more similarities I've found with the public middle school I was coming from. I realized that there’s a lot of people here that still don’t treat people in the nicest ways, and there're people who say and do things that aren’t great. But the thing is, this place was still an amazing experience, and it changed my whole perspective on school. SLUH really made me enjoy the learning process, and it really morphed me into a person that I can be comfortable being proud of.

Carson Hall: I didn’t expect to be so comfortable with challenges. Coming into SLUH, I would get frustrated if things were difficult and if I didn’t get something the first time. As I progressed through SLUH, I have learned both how to deal with difficult material but also why it helps me grow as a student. Additionally, challenges through athletics have only grown me closer to my peers. 

How has your perception of SLUH changed over your time here?

Mosé Ogunrinde: SLUH was very intimidating when I came in, it being a great, smart school. As a Black student, I remember coming in for shadowing and seeing what felt like a bunch of white students and a single Black table in the corner at lunch. But I realize now, after being at SLUH for so long, that it’s a very integrated community, there are so many different people here, and I didn’t originally see that on that initial shadow visit. 

Jay Carroll: I actually didn’t want to go to SLUH, and I had to come because my brother came here, so my parents forced me to go. Originally, my perception was that there’s gonna be a bunch of preppy, Catholic white boys, and I was going to be forced to fit into that. But soon after I got here, I realized that there’s a specific niche for everybody, and there’s lots of ways to get involved and show your interest.

Nick Zimmerman: When I was first coming, I sort of thought that it would be a lot of focus on education and people who aren't as “cool” or “normal,” and a lot of nerds here. But as I went through, there are a lot of great people, and I was able to realize that almost everyone here is able to balance both academics and also a bunch of other interests.

Mitchell Orr: I really liked SLUH because of the STEM program. In fact, my older brother, my dad, my uncle and my cousin all went to De Smet and I chose to go to SLUH because of how different our STEM program is. The education here is amazing, but some of my fellow students have been lackluster with their empathy towards me, my friends, and others.

Liam Fitzgerald: Hard work. I think before, I saw hard work as people being try-hards but now I see hard work also when someone is responsible, which is one of the best signs of intelligence.

Connor Kane: When I was in middle school, it seemed like SLUH would be too difficult for me. Now that I’m a senior, I’ve realized that as long as you keep your head down and keep doing the hard work, eventually you’re gonna come out the other side and realize what you did was actually pretty great.