DJ Parouse

What is your name? What grade are you currently in academically, if applicable? What year is this for you at this school or what year did you graduate?

 My name is DJ Parouse, and I graduated from The Lawrenceville School in 2024 after spending my repeat junior year and senior year there.

Which preparatory school did you attend, and what key factors influenced your decision to enroll at that institution? 

I chose Lawrenceville because it offered the perfect combination of academics, hockey, and campus culture.

Please describe a typical day during the competitive season, including your schedule and the balance between training, academics, and other commitments. 

A typical day started with classes from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. After that, I’d hit the gym, go to practice, and grab dinner either before or after practice depending on the schedule. I tried to get most of my homework done during my free periods so I could have time to relax in the evenings.

How does your daily routine differ during the off-season? Outline your typical activities, including any training, rest, or personal development efforts. 

In the off-season, students in grades 9–11 had to play another sport—either varsity, JV, or recreational. This still allowed time to skate and work out, but the schedule was less intense.

How did you manage to balance your athletic responsibilities with your academic coursework? Feel free to share specific strategies or resources that were particularly helpful. 

It all came down to discipline. I wanted to spend time with friends, but I made sure my schoolwork was done first. I had clear goals going into prep school, and keeping those in mind helped me stay motivated when things got tough.

What are your professional objectives over the next five years, and in what ways has attending a preparatory school contributed to or shaped these goals? 

I’m currently in my second year of junior hockey in the NAHL and hope to attend an Ivy League or NESCAC school next season. Prep school helped me develop independence, strong study habits, and a disciplined mindset.

If you could offer one piece of advice to prospective students considering a similar preparatory program, what would it be and why? Enjoy the experience and get to know as many people as possible. Don’t limit yourself to just the hockey circle—be curious and open to everyone. Some of my closest friends from prep school don’t even play hockey.