A Look Into My Life

About Me

Hello everyone! My name is Aaron Karnish and I am currently a senior at the University of Montana studying Business Marketing. I am originally from Elkhorn, Nebraska just outside of Omaha. I am the youngest of 4 siblings which has been the best blessing I have ever had in my life, and I miss my siblings everyday. I created this educational forum for the sole reason of spreading awareness to parents on why they should send their sons to Mount Michael Benedictine. I believe it is one of the greatest developmental aspects you can do for your son before he is off to college and out of the house. So, take a second to learn about me and my experiences to have a better understanding of what Mount Michael can do for your son.

It was the decision of my father to put me and my brother, Dylan, into Catholic schools because he attended St. Bernard, a small Catholic school in the heart of Omaha, as a young boy. He learned there that the relationships you make with your classmates, teachers, administrators, and parish community can make all the difference and last a lifetime. So, when it was time for me and Dylan to attend preschool and kindergarten, we started out our schooling careers at St. Robert Bellarmine. At the time, this was one of the best primary Catholic schools in Omaha and it was a great first step into the community that Catholic schools provide. The friends that I made in those two short years at St. Robert Bellarmine are still the friends that I have today, and the same goes for my brother. However, after a while, my parents felt like it was the best decision to take us out of St. Roberts and transfer us to a different Catholic school. As a result of this, we transferred schools further west to St. Patricks in Elkhorn. This was a daunting decision as such a young boy and I did not want to leave the friends I made while at St. Roberts. But after a while, St. Patricks quickly became me and my brothers new home. Today, it seems those years have flown by and now are just a distant memory. I still remember when I received my first communion in 2nd grade and when I was confirmed in 8th grade. I remember how amazing my teachers were all through elementary and middle school, and the relationships I still have with them.

When it came time to chose where I wanted to go to high school, there was a variety of choices that I could choose from. Without a doubt, I knew I wanted to continue my education at a Catholic school, but I did not know which one would fit me the best. My brother had attended Creighton Preparatory School which is one of the Midwests leading college preparatory schools. A couple other schools included Skutt Catholic, Gross Catholic, and Archbishop Bergen. I spent some school days shadowing these schools including Creighton Prep, but I felt like something about them did not connect with me. It was not until I seriously started considering Mount Michael Benedictine as the place I would call home for the next 4 years. When I was a kid, I spent a couple of my summers as a camper at Mount Michaels historic summer camp, but I was so used to following my big brother wherever he went. All through middle school, I knew I was going to attend Creighton Prep because Dylan was there. Through all of this, there was some aspect of Mount Michael that called me home. I decided to further my academic career at Mount Michael Benedictine, and it was the best decision I have ever made.

I was excited about this new opportunity and the doors that would open for me at Mount Michael. I was excited about the fact that I would be living away from home and would have a new meaning for the word independence. I started my freshman year hopeful, but full of nerves for my new boarding experience. During freshman orientation, we learned the rules of the school and how to behave like young men. We learned about our shortened phone privileges and how bed time was at 10:10 pm sharp. In that orientation, we learned how to tie our ties, make our beds, keep a clean locker and desk. It was the discipline and structure that my classmates and I found to be so useful.

For the next four years, I learned how to take hold of my independence and grow into new mature men. Each year I took it upon myself to reach a new height of self-improvement. I was challenged by my academic studies, athletic obligations, dorm life, and spirituality. I was truly receiving an experience unlike any other, and one only a Mount Michael man would understand. However, when I left Mount Michael after graduation, I looked back and realized how useful and formative that time was for me. In this blog, I will outline 5 key aspects of why I think you should send your son to Mount Michael Benedictine for high school. Those 5 aspects are athletics, academics, dorm life, alumni connections, and spiritual development.