Chris-Ander Paraison is a graduating senior in the Nurse Assisting program. (Photo courtesy Southeastern)
Chris-Ander Paraison of Brockton is recognized as a Southeastern Regional Class of 2024 Senior in the Spotlight.
Southeastern’s Senior Spotlight honorees are chosen based on their high academic and vocational achievement. Seniors are selected from each of the nine communities Southeastern serves and are highlighted before graduation, which will be held this year on June 5.
Paraison is a senior in the Nurse Assisting vocational program. He chose to follow Nurse Assisting because he enjoyed his early experiences with seniors during his sophomore year clinicals. He said one can learn so much from older residents, and throughout his clinical experience, he has had many opportunities to share laughs, wisdom and lessons with those he has interacted with.
His favorite experience from his vocational work was assisting a resident at the Heights Crossing Assisted Living Facility in the Memory Care Unit.
He remembers this resident having a difficult day, and his coworkers having trouble putting her to bed. He slowly helped calm her down and assisted her into bed and was about to walk away before she called him back over. She kissed him on the forehead with tears in her eyes.
This moment was so impactful that Paraison based his college application essay on it.
After graduation, he plans to attend Harvard College and pursue Chemical and Physical Biology.
While at Southeastern, Paraison was involved in the Student Council as a media coordinator, the National Honor Society, Dual Enrollment, a co-op at Doolittle Home, research as an intern at Massasoit Community College, the Cooking Club, Newspaper Club, Dietary Aide at West Acres, and the Southeastern Math Team.
His advice to freshmen is: “Explore everything that seems even slightly interesting to you. Try new extracurriculars, take challenging courses, and meet new people. Also, try your best. Don’t compare yourself to other students and just focus on doing your best."
Hannah Sammut, John Guilfoil Public Relations