Ode to Southridge

Ode to Southridge | Daily Tribune

When I think about my years at PAREF Southridge, I remember how ordinary the days felt at the time and how meaningful they look now. What stayed with me was not just the lessons in class, but the way the school formed us as young men. And for parents who dream of raising future lawyers, Southridge offers something rare: an environment where boys learn to think clearly, feel deeply, and act with a strong sense of right and wrong.

One of the most important things Southridge gave us was mentorship. Each student had a mentor, someone who knew him, guided him, and helped him see both his strengths and the areas he had to work on. It was not about being the best in class. It was about growing as a person. That kind of formation naturally points a young man toward service, fairness, and responsibility, qualities that matter in the study and practice of law.

Southridge also struck a good balance between the arts and the sciences. This may sound simple, but it matters. The sciences trained us to be analytical and precise. The arts taught us to communicate, empathize, and understand the stories behind people and problems. It is often said that the law is both logic and humanity. In hindsight, Southridge prepared us for that long before we ever opened a law book.

Religion played a quiet but steady role in our daily routine. It was not about memorizing doctrines. It was about forming conscience. Morning prayers, short recollections, teachers reminding us to choose what is right even when no one is watching, all of these helped build a moral compass. And if there is one thing every parent hopes for in a future lawyer, it is integrity. Southridge helps plant those seeds early, in ways young boys may not appreciate yet but will rely on later.

What I remember most fondly were the simple high school moments: the laughter with friends, the nervous wait for grades, the teachers who believed in us. Those small experiences slowly shaped how we viewed the world. They made us aware that society needs people who will stand for what is fair, who will serve with humility, and who will not lose their values no matter how far they go.

Southridge does not claim to produce lawyers. It forms young men who have the mindset and heart to eventually become good ones. For parents dreaming of that path for their sons, it is a place where those dreams can quietly begin.