Prep for Life Speaker Series

About the Speaker Series

The "Prep for Life" Speaker Series is designed to continue Seton Hall Prep's mission, preparing our students to meet the challenges of adulthood, even after graduation. Throughout this series, beloved SHP faculty will speak on a variety of topics relevant to Setonian's lives after their time at The Prep while also providing opportunities for alumni to reconnect with each other and the faculty and staff members who were so instrumental to their high school experience.

The evenings will begin with drinks and light finger-foods at 6:30 PM in the newly-renovated SHP library. Registration links can be found below each event.

David Snyder '89

Integrating Hazard Zet Forward into Life Beyond High School

SHP Dean of Academics Dave Snyder '89 will kick off the “Prep for Life” speaker series with a presentation focusing on practical strategies to integrate our Hazard Zet Forward philosophy into life beyond high school. Dave will chat about examples of how he has used our new Hazard Zet Forward initiative to become more effective in his roles at The Prep, and in his family life – especially as a father. If you are not aware of our Hazard Zet Forward initiative strategies, please visit shp.org/hzf

Date: Thursday, Dec. 5
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Library

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

John Merklinger '08

The Art of Effective Communication: Listening, Speaking, and Building Relationships

Effective communication is often misunderstood as simply being able to speak well. In reality, it’s a delicate balance between listening, speaking, and building meaningful relationships—skills that are foundational to both personal and professional success. In this presentation, SHP public speaking teacher John Merklinger '08 will explore how public speaking isn’t just about delivering a message but also about crafting a conversation, fostering empathy, and understanding others’ perspectives.

Date: Thursday, Feb. 27
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Library

Chris Barnitt '88

Cultivating Contentment in an Anxious Age

What is the ‘good life’ and how do we achieve it in the midst of uncertainty and a dizzying array of distractions? Join SHP Director of School Counseling Chris Barnitt '88 for a presentation on how to think about and pursue greater contentment in our lives.

Date: Thursday, May 8
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Library