Interview with St. Michael's College School Alum, Chris Paolini

The thing I appreciate most is the community that St. Mike's has and the relationships I've built within that community. I have a dozen, maybe even two dozen, friends that I'm still regularly in contact with. That's about a fifth of the entire graduating class. My entire wedding party was made up of St. Mike's graduates.

St. Mike's encourages you to explore new interests, discover new passions, and develop your skills in a well-rounded way… For a school that's traditionally known for athletics, they've made a real effort to develop well-rounded young men.

Being disciplined in your schoolwork is a huge part of the experience. Whether you're a straight-A student or more of an average student, it's about having the discipline to do the work that needs to get done and to do it to the best of your ability.

Because of that culture of high expectations and discipline, there's also a healthy sense of internal competition… There's an internal competition to be as good as you can be because the students who are well-liked and respected are often the ones who do well in their classes.

That emphasis on school being about more than just the classroom is a big part of developing the well-rounded young man that St. Mike's strives to cultivate.

When you meet a St. Mike's student, they're typically respectful to themselves, to their elders, and to people who are less fortunate… Along with that respect, there's also a strong sense of drive, competitiveness, passion, and a desire to be the best version of yourself.

As a hockey player growing up, I always loved having the historic arena on campus. So many legendary hockey players have played in that building. It's an older arena, but it really reflects the school's history and tradition.

There are all these little subcommunities within the broader St. Mike's community. Whether you played on a sports team, were in the band, were planning to study a certain field at university, or shared another interest, there were always smaller groups you could connect with.

It's a bit cliché to call it a brotherhood, but that's really what it is. The alumni experienced that support when they were students, and they genuinely want to give it back. That was a huge part of my experience.

I think it's one of the few communities where time doesn't diminish your connection to it. You hear stories all the time about graduates who haven't seen each other in 20 years. Then they reconnect at an event, and it's as though nothing has changed. It's like they're right back in those yellow-brick hallways.

I found the application process very straightforward, although the admissions process itself was rigorous.

If you carry yourself the way you're taught to at the school, success tends to follow. Respect follows as well. More importantly, those lessons help you become a good person.

That emphasis on becoming a well-rounded person is something St. Mike's does exceptionally well, and it's one of the biggest reasons I would recommend the school.