Grieshop among 6 senior finalists in state competition
The Louisiana Department of Education named Cole Grieshop as this region’s 12th grade Student of the Year, making him one of six finalists eligible to earn the overall Louisiana senior Student of the Year. That honor will be announced at an awards ceremony April 13 at the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge.
Collin King of Ruston High School, Caleb Armstrong of Ouachita Parish High School, Cade Herman of Sulphur High School, Zoe Williamson of West Feleciana High School and John Cresson Jr. of St. Paul’s School join Grieshop as 12th grade regional finalists.
“To say I’m really happy is really an understatement,” Grieshop said. “I’m really excited. I actually found out through (Destrehan Principal) Mr. (Stephen) Weber in passing. He assumed I already knew, so it was a real surprise. I’m very honored … there are a lot of others I know who would have been strong choices, but they went with me.”
He said that while he was always a solid student, he truly began taking his education seriously in middle school.“That’s where I learned how to study,” he explained.
“Before, I did well enough … I didn’t make straight As, but I did well enough and found that relatively easy.
“I had a number of older friends, and when they got to high school, they were sinking or swimming. I knew I didn’t want to sink, so I tried to emulate what the successful individuals did. That came down to them committing themselves.”
That commitment of one’s self is the backbone, Grieshop believes, of his own success. He decided he wanted to be a success in the classroom, but just as importantly, he sought to pursue extracurricular efforts that stirred great interest within him.
Among those, he’s served as President of the school’s National Honor Society, as a member of the Beta Club and he’s played on Destrehan’s varsity soccer team. During his summers, he volunteers with a camp for people with special needs in Alabama, a practice he plans to continue this year.
“I think it’s important to do things you’re really passionate about,” he said. “Anyone can pick up a club or join 100 of them, but if you’re not committed to it, you won’t get much out of it at all. Pick things you’re willing to really put your time and effort into.
“If you don’t do something with passion, then why do it at all?”
He’s also an avid writer and reader, his passion for the written word obvious when the topic is broached. He has already published a book in December.
“I love stringing together words to form a sentence that can go beyond standard language and sound beautiful, even poetic,” he said.
While he acknowledges plans can change, Grieshop said he’s eying a career as a neurologist, a path that appeals to him for a number of reasons. Grieshop’s father suffers from multiple sclerosis, an affliction that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and it’s an issue he says he wishes “to tackle head on.”
“There are other ways to get involved, with fundraisers and donations, to offer financial support, but you’re not on the front line,” Grieshop said. “I think it could be a really rewarding career for me and I see myself as someone who could contribute.
“I’ve seen how it’s something that’s affected my family. Then you look around at the effect concussions have had on football and soccer players … you see people develop Alzheimer’s Disease, and to me, that’s scary. People are losing their memory and if that’s not terrifying, I don’t know what is.”
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