Ben Parsley, Senior
Communications major with emphasis in advertising, English minor in creative writing
Member of the men’s soccer team
Nathaniel Parsley, Junior
Music major with emphasis in sacred music and conducting
Plays tuba in Kentucky Wesleyan band, member of Kentucky Wesleyan Singers
Tell our readers about your internships.
Ben
“I’ve been doing an internship with the Kentucky Mavericks, who recently relocated to Owensboro. They put me on salary in January as a media relations and marketing assistant.
I love what I do. My education at Wesleyan prepared me for this. I do color commentary for home games on radio, including ESPN3 out of Evansville. I am the youngest broadcaster ever on ESPN!”
Nathaniel
“I’ve been a youth pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church in Rockport, Ind., my home church. I’ve taught, led worship, led the youth and played bass in the praise band. On March 1,
I will become the pastor at Collins Chapel United Methodist Church in Troy, Ind.”
Reflect on your experiences as students at Wesleyan.
Ben
“I have appreciated the personal relationships with my professors. Wesleyan is a very open and welcoming community. I have taken six of Professor Joey Connelly’s classes. He is helpful and makes the work easy to understand and enjoyable, too. And I cherish my memories of playing soccer here.
The supportive atmosphere has helped me become who I need to be. I can’t measure the value of the personal attention here at Wesleyan, but I know what happened to me. I’ve become my own man here.”
Nathaniel
“I think of the loving care I’ve experienced with my professors. Professor Steven Pederson is so busy, but he always makes sure he has time for me. He makes it clear that he wants me to succeed. I love the smallness of the college. That has meant a lot to me. I’ve had opportunities to do many things, such as playing several instruments in the band and singing in the choir, including Carnegie Hall.”
Ben, tell us about your experience on the men’s soccer team.
Ben
“It was my dream to play college soccer. I had never scored a goal, and with nine minutes left in my soccer career, I scored. The team was ecstatic; there were lots of hugs. I will never forget this; not just scoring, but the reaction and support of my teammates.”
Nathaniel, share some ways your experiences here have helped prepare you for the ministry.
Nathaniel
“Monday night Bible study and prayer have meant a lot to me, as has playing bass guitar at Wednesday chapel services. I participated in a mission trip to Appalachia; that was a tremendous experience. The choir trips have been special, too. We share our love for music, and we depend on one another. We can’t be successful alone; it takes sharing and support.”
What do you do when you aren’t studying or working? What is the perfect “get away from it all” time?
Ben
“We aren’t just brothers. We are best friends, and we have become even closer during our time at Wesleyan. We have common friends. We like to put the phones down and talk around a bonfire. We are also game enthusiasts and love a game of Euchre or Monopoly or Risk.”
Nathaniel
“We love to go camping, canoeing or hiking with NO electronics. We did a 30-mile two-day canoe trip on the East Fork of the White River in Indiana and camped on an island. Now we are planning a three-day trip on the same river.”
It’s time to look ahead. You have both accomplished so much. What’s next?
Ben
“I am loving my job with the Mavericks, and we will see where that takes me. Someday I just may become a college athletic director.”
Nathaniel
“In the immediate future, as I Wesleyan Fellow, I will present my own 30-minute composition on Scholars’ Day. And I will attend seminary after graduation.”
All the best to both of you. You have bright futures, and this hour together has been interesting and fun. You have a lot to offer to the world!