By Suzy Alstrin
Reinhardt University Academic Scholar Aryn Parrish (RU-2024) won this year’s School Student Achievement Award for the McCamish School of Business, holds membership in the Alpha Chi Honor Society, the 2023 Accounting Academic Degree Program Award, and earned a spot every semester on the President’s List with a 4.0 grade point average. Throughout these achievements, she says her philosophy for success revolves around hard work, resilience, and gratitude.
“Seeing every day through grateful eyes gives meaning to every moment, good or bad,” explained Parrish. “Gratitude made my heart brighter and burdens lighter.” When something became difficult or wasn’t going well, Parrish described how she would write down everything she was grateful for and meditate on her notes, “I have little note cards all over my room. I am reminded of my physical ability to play soccer, my ability to learn, the privilege to go to college, and my family and friends who support me.”
As a captain and a starting player on Reinhardt’s women’s soccer team, Parrish helped her team succeed on and off the field, including making lasting memories at the national tournament her junior year. She participated in recruiting efforts and gave potential recruits campus tours, proudly showing off the university she loves and calls home. In acts of community service off campus, she coaches her former middle school team in Woodstock and helps with youth soccer camps.
On May 3rd, Parrish graduates with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and a minor in project management with a career goal of working for the National Credit Union Administration in Washington, D.C. She looks forward to commencement and having her family share in the excitement of the day. After all, her parents and siblings are at the top of her gratitude list, “They never once stopped supporting me. I wouldn’t be where I am right now for sure without them.”
