Matthew Gish ‘22
Matthew Gish admits his Saint John’s experience hasn’t exactly been what he expected it would be when the Bemidji (Minnesota) High School graduate first arrived on campus as a freshman in the fall of 2018.
It’s actually been far more meaningful than that.
Gish, a biochemistry major with a minor in neuroscience who hopes to one day become a physician, is a sprinter on the track and field team at SJU.
But he’s also a member of the EMT squad on campus, and plays a key role on the leadership team of the Magis Ministries Club, which sponsors events like “Praise in the Pub” at Br. Willie’s Pub in Sexton Commons.
Along the way, he’s also become close with members of the monastic community and has taken piano lessons from faculty members.
“The most baffling thing to me is that coming here these weren’t the experiences I thought I’d have,” he said. “I hoped to run track and field and make friends. But I had no idea that I’d be drawn into the (abbey) and have the chance to interact with the people I’ve met there.
“I had no idea I’d be part of the EMT squad or be involved in ministerial efforts. Those aren’t the things you typically think about when you’re a high school student deciding on a college. But they are the things that have made my experience here so meaningful.”
Sometimes his different roles on campus even intersect, as SJU track and field coach Jeremy Karger-Gatzow found out earlier this season,
“A few weeks ago, I was working with the throwers,” Karger-Gatzow recalls. “I looked over and the EMT squad was arriving. One of our runners had an allergic reaction to something and had turned deep red. Matt had transitioned to EMT mode and was monitoring the runner. He had taken charge of the situation and had everything under control. Even when the ambulance arrived, Matt communicated all the important information and was helpful in the entire process.”
The runner ended up being OK and did not need to go to the hospital. But Karger-Gatzow was grateful to have had Gish’s expertise to draw on.
“He is just so great to have around and (he) makes the team better,” Karger-Gatzow said.
But Gish said he might not have ended up at Saint John’s in the first place were it not for the financial aid package he received. That includes scholarships like the Dr. Michael Fuller Memorial Scholarship, the Recognition Scholarship, the Saint John’s Scholarship and an Honors Scholarship.
“That’s definitely helped ease a lot of the burden as I pursue my goal of becoming a physician,” he said. “It’s given me more flexibility to get involved and volunteer my time and services without having to worry as much about my financial situation.”
And that service, in turn, has helped him acquire skills that will one day prove beneficial as he continues down his chosen path.
“Just as an example of that, I’ve learned a ton from being part of the EMT squad here,” Gish said. “I’ve gotten so much practical medical experience. I’ve had to respond to everything from seizures to anxiety attacks, and it’s made me even more aware of the wide diversity of health issues that exist in any community you serve.
“Back home, I also work as a medical technician at the (Beltrami) County Jail. And there’s a ton of perspective I’ve gained here that I’ve been able to apply there as well. That’s one of the great things about Saint John’s. You learn so much that you can take with you out into the rest of the world.”
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