Former Fluco and current FCHS Counselor Haden Parrish is one of six counselors at the high school. This is his second job at FCHS. Prior to his current position, which he has held for the last four years, Parrish was the FCHS college advisor, a position designed for recent college graduates and structured to be a two-year job.
Despite being employed full-time while doing that job, Parrish was still in grad school getting his Master of Education in Human Development Counseling, specializing in School Counseling. Parrish double majored in Sociology and African American Studies for his bachelor’s degree at the University of Virginia, and then went to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, for graduate school.
“Being a school counselor is the most exhausting thing I’ve ever done, and I love it so much,” said Parrish. “Every day has moments of heartbreak and every day has moments of joy. Working as a counselor, I never know what to expect when I get into school.”
Though being a counselor wasn’t what Parrish initially wanted to be, FCHS Assistant Principal Stacey Holland impressed him with the daily impact she had on others. While Parrish was the college advisor helping students navigate their academic journey, Holland was Parrish’s supervisor.
“Holland became and continues to be one of the best mentors in my life,” he said.
Outside of Parrish’s counseling job, he is an outgoing person who loves to be in touch with nature. He lives on a farm and spends most of his time after school working with his cows to decompress. One of his favorite hobbies is traveling; he has traveled to four countries, including Australia, Ghana, Taiwan, and Italy.
“Australia was the most fun, Ghana was the most educational, Taiwan was the most beautiful, and Italy was the most historic. I loved them all,” he said.
Many high school staffers love to see their students graduate, and Parrish is one of them.
“I look forward to graduation each year and seeing my students’ hard work pay off,” said Parrish about what he is looking forward to.
