Forman Scholar Shalayby Parsons Determined to Fulfill His Marine Biology Aspirations

From a very young age, Forman Scholar Shalayby Parsons has been fascinated by the ocean and the animal life residing within it, especially sharks. Worried about the growing problem of ocean pollution and driven by a desire to do something about it, Shalayby has decided to study marine biology when he launches his college career at Stockton University this coming fall.

“By pursuing this particular career path, my hope is to one day join, or possibly lead, clean-up efforts to remove trash and other pollution harming our valuable ocean ecosystems,” Shalayby said.

Shalayby’s extraordinary involvement while a student at Salem High School has put him in the perfect position to succeed at Stockton and beyond. As class president for the past four years, his tenure saw the return of the school’s beloved Snowball Dance and the promotion of valuable fundraising drives. When he was not seen drawing in one of his favorite art classes, Shalayby, a three-sport athlete, was found swimming, racing across the soccer field or throwing strikes as a member of the bowling team.  

Beyond wanting to pursue a career in the sciences, Shalayby also considers himself a bit of an entrepreneur. In fact, participating in the 2019 Barracuda Bowl, a business pitch competition hosted by Junior Achievement of Delaware, ranks as one of his favorite memories. The competition involved student teams from across the region designing business plans and products, and then pitching them to a panel of expert judges. Shalayby’s team, Ram Inc., and their product – a winter weather kit containing handwarmers, gloves and socks to keep Salem students walking to school warm – impressed the judges enough to take first prize.

“Our team put a ton of time and effort into our business plan, so, while we were surprised that we won, the achievement nonetheless validated all of that hard work,” Shalayby said. “I was also named the Salesperson of the Year, which made the entire experience that much more rewarding.”

Shalayby is no stranger to the Salem area, as his mother works for the school district’s preschool. Active in his church community, Shalayby regularly participates in service projects and sees immense value in community engagement efforts throughout Salem.

“To be able to selflessly serve others is such a rewarding feeling. In my view, giving back to the community is an obligation we all share,” Shalayby said.

Armed with valuable life experiences and with a clear direction for his future, Shalayby is confidently stepping into the next chapter of his life. For those still engaged in the college search, he shares a valuable, yet often unthought of, piece of wisdom.

“For every college you’re interested in, make a point of speaking with current students. While it’s important to understand what each school has to offer, it’s more important to understand the lived experiences of those who actually call each campus ‘home.’”