Gwyneth Tiderington ’19 has come a long way since her days of attending South. After earning her undergraduate

degree from Michigan State University and completing her master’s at the University of Detroit Mercy, she now works as an

Information Security Analyst at Blue Cross Blue Shield of

Michigan. On the Risk Management team, she helps protect the organization from cyber threats and sets up security regulations. The path wasn’t always clear, like many, she faced the pressure of having her life figured out right after graduation. “I changed my major and career goals completely after my first semester,” Tiderington said. She’s always stayed close with her friends from South, talking daily and meeting often. Tiderington has given back to South frequently; she returned to coach South’s JV Field Hockey team, continuing her connection to the school and the sport she loves.

Joey Erickson ’18 took an eventful path after graduation, but this path led him to a place he truly enjoys. He studied Food Industry Management at Michigan State University,

after first exploring engineering and realizing it wasn’t for him. “I did engineering, but it wasn’t

for me, I didn’t like it,” Erickson said. Today, Erickson works as an expeditor at Brine Oyster Ho

use, helping keep the busy kitchen running smoothly and ensuring every dish satisfies every customer. While it’s fast-paced, he loves the energy and teamwork. Though he’s not involved with South directly anymore, Erickson’s closest friendships lead back to high school. Erickson is not looking back anytime soon, he is staying focused on building a life that feels right for him, one step at a time.

Lauren Carron ’24 is already making a big impact on her journey toward a career in medicine. Now a sophomore at

Michigan State University, she’s majoring in Human Biology within the Lyman Briggs College and following the pre-med track. While she’s not working just yet, Carron is gaining experience by volunteering at the

Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, part of DMC in downtown Detroit. The transition to college came with challenges. “Adjusting to the workload of college courses was the hardest part,” Carron said. Still, Carron has found her path

and is moving forward. Her roots at South stay strong, especially with the teammates from her Field Hockey days, and even as a busy student, she’s looking to give back to South by coaching elementary and Kindergarten kids field hockey. “It’s a way to stay connected and give back to the sport I love,” Carron said.

Alyssa Poll ’04 looks back on her high school years with great appreciation. Now 39, she lives in Novi with her husband and two children, and works as an Organizational

Effectiveness Program Consultant for Trinity Health, helping teams grow stronger and more connected. During her time at South, Poll was a dedicated member of the school newspaper for three years, even serving as Sports Editor her senior year. She also played Volleyball freshman year, where she met many of the friends she still keeps in touch with today. Though life is busy, South is still close to her. She dreams of bringing her kids to future football games and would love for them to one day walk the same halls as she did. “If we move back to Grosse Pointe, I’d love for my kids to attend South too,” Poll said.