Oliver parents are the critical lynchpin to our Scholars’ success. They lay the foundation for all of the incredible things our Scholars are capable of accomplishing. Throughout all of their children’s academic and social milestones, Oliver parents cheerlead, nudge, coax, and challenge Scholars to keep reaching for excellence. Brook Wolcott, Oliver’s Director of College Counseling, recently talked with Alex Massac, father of two Oliver Scholars: Monet ‘17, a first-year student at Scripps College, and Lili ‘19, an 11th grader at Brooklyn Friends School. Alex shared his perspective on the Oliver experience and even gave some advice for parents new to the Oliver community. This is the first of a regular series that will highlight Oliver parents and their contributions.

At the beginning, Alex said, he was appreciative of Monet’s middle school counselor for nominating her for Oliver Scholars. As one of the top students in the school, the counselor strongly recommended that the family pursue the opportunity. Alex admitted that, at first glance, the program felt a bit daunting – asking the students to essentially give up two summers in a row and tackle additional work during the school year. Interview Weekend did nothing to dispel the concerns that completing the program would require a lot of effort and that the workload would approach the limits of what was feasible. At the same time, his experience that weekend convinced him that the hard work would be well-worth the investment, not least because Oliver was, at heart, a sizeable community of academically high-achieving people of color. As self-proclaimed “nerds”, Alex often felt that he and his girls did not always find a good fit within their community, and it meant a great deal to him for his daughters to be part of Oliver. Interview Weekend continues to be a meaningful time for Alex as he has been a regular volunteer at this event since Monet was accepted into the program in 2012.

The workload during the Summer Immersion and Placement Program lived up to its daunting reputation, but Alex saw both of his girls meet the challenge head-on and emerge with an aggressive work ethic and study habits that continue to be useful today. Alex especially praised the Summer Program teachers. They were not only effective in conveying the coursework, but they also seemed to instill a genuine love of learning in the students. Alex’s advice to parents during this stage of the Oliver process? Find the right balance for their children between work and relaxation. Students will be working hard year-round, he said, and some may need a gentle nudge of encouragement or help getting to and from the library. Just as important, though, are opportunities to give students free time to de-stress and recharge.

Oliver has played a significant role in both Monet and Lili’s lives; for example, it was Monet’s Oliver college counselor who introduced her to Scripps College in California, where she is currently is pursuing her interest in film. Another important value that Oliver offers, from Alex’s perspective, are the connections his girls have made. Both Monet and Lili have been able to pursue their passions in filmmaking and dance and to travel and study internationally. It seems clear, he said, that as Oliver continues to grow, there will be even more opportunities for valuable connections not only with external partners, but increasingly within the Oliver Alumni network.

Alex could not stress enough how much work is required of Oliver Scholars, but also that it was precisely that workload, and the high expectations that go with it, that yielded great results for both his Scholars.