After being named Louisiana’s 12th grade Student of the Year, it seemed extremely likely Cole Grieshop would be named Destrehan High School’s Valedictorian. That honor was made official this week, Grieshop earning the top distinction for the Class of 2016.
Grieshop maintained a 4.0 unweighted GPA in Destrehan’s advanced studies curriculum. He earned regional student of the year honors in 2012 to go along with his win as a high school senior in 2016. He earned a composite score of 33 on the ACT and was the president of the National Honor Society in his senior year. He was a three-year BETA club member and a four-year Mu Alpha Theta member. He was also a starter on DHS’ soccer team. He is a Deans’ Honor Scholarship recipient from Tulane University, where he plans to study chemical engineering before pursuing a career in environmental law.
Grieshop says his heavy workload is possible in part because he has a great support system of people behind him —“I walk a really tight line, and (those) great people around me are why I can do even half of what I do,” he says — and also because of his philosophy of focusing on the pursuit of interests he is passionate about.
And one thing Grieshop is extremely passionate about is his work at the Alabama Special Camp for Children and Adults, where he has completed more than 400 hours of volunteer work and has plans to visit again to contribute this summer.
“I’m actually really excited about that,” Grieshop said, noting others have committed to helping along with him. “I’m trying to make Destrehan something of a feeder for that, because it’s something no one would hear of otherwise. I’m trying to get (the National Honor Society) to go do it. I’ve got some of my friends going to (Tulane) with me to go to it as well. So it’ll be like a family type of situation, and that’s what I’m hoping to make it going forward.”
Grieshop learned of the camp through family members who have helped there and it has become a cause that’s near and dear to him.
“Growing up, it was always this thing where they’d tell me, ‘one day you should do this, Cole,’ and eventually I did,” he said. “I think special education is treated with a lot of respect in this parish, but in others I think it’s lacking. It requires a different type of education. I’m certainly sympathetic to a different type of learner … not necessarily better or worse, just a different type of education that needs to be tailor-fitted to each student.”
He is already a published novelist, beginning work on his recently released book, “What Tides Offer Islands” when he was just an 8th grader.
Grieshop used the fictional work as a means to live vicariously through a character traveling a much different path than the author’s own.
“It’s about a life I don’t want to live,” Grieshop said. “It’s the life I never took. It was all about trying to understand what is going through my head without actually doing it, just a catharsis, maybe.”
One thing quickly apparent to those who have met him is that the great volume of accomplishments is made possible, in large part, by his knack for time-management. It starts, he says, with something as simple as making liberal use of the calendar application on his phone. Respecting the time and effort of others is another key.
“If you show up late, don’t think you’re really respecting the person you’re meeting with,” Grieshop said. “There are always going to be days where things don’t line up, but give it the best shot you can. Don’t fumble your way through it.”
The resources available at Tulane appealed to Grieshop, as did the size of the school and diversity of the student body.
“I found Tulane to be a college that has a soul to it,” Grieshop said. “Not too big where you get lost … college where you’ll recognize faces, where people will take time to get to know you. I won’t just be a number, but a person. That’s why I gravitated there.”
But while he looks forward to being a member of the Green Wave student body, he says he won’t ever forget his time as a Destrehan Wildcat.
“I remember being a little intimidated when I first walked into Destrehan as a freshman,” Grieshop said. “It can seem daunting, but I’m grateful how quickly that insecurity turned into a feeling of reassurance that I belonged. You find the people you belong with. They have your back and you have theirs. No matter where you go in life, you know they’re going to be your friends.”
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