Final Blog

We thought we would never make it to this point.  Those countless nights of no sleep, the endless drowning of homework, the numerous cups of coffee, and of course, the tears have all led us to this point - the end of junior year. Yes, we actually did it; we all survived possibly the worst year ever. So before I begin, I would just like to say congratulations to everyone. However, the ending of junior year can be a little bittersweet because in the next few months we will be making some very important and life-changing decisions; which is why I am happy that I took part in many service opportunities this year because it has taught me a lot about myself and life in general.

This year I participated in after school care at St. Margaret of Scotland and I also went on the New Orleans mission trip. Though these service opportunities have revealed to me some outstanding qualities and characteristics of greatness, two lessons have stuck out to me.

1. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.
2. Do what you love.

To make the most of every opportunity that comes my way, I learned that I must step out of my comfort zone. I need to constantly open myself to new people, places, things, and experiences. I must continually challenge myself and live each day to the fullest by taking advantage of opportunities, especially opportunities that I know little to nothing about so that I can expand my worldview.

Throughout my service experiences this year I came across many people, young and old, who truly love what they are doing. At St. Margaret I met many teachers, the principal, and an after school aid, who probably do not make much money because of the financial struggles that the school has right now. However, these people work so hard at what they do and they go above and beyond their standard requirements. They absolutely love working with the children, and their persistence withy them benefits the children tremendously. In New Orleans, I met a ranch owner, a soup kitchen owner, and a youth center employee. All of these places were located in the lower class and poor neighborhoods of New Orleans, so I assume that these people did not make a lot of money either. But that did not stop them from doing their jobs and doing them right. These people worked so hard at their jobs and put so much into it despite the sacrifices they had to make in their own lives. They loved what they were doing and they loved to help people. I learned from all these people not to worry about money or other superficial factors when deciding what I want to do for a living, but to instead, choose something that I am going to always enjoy and love.

I am very thankful that I took part in many service opportunities this year because they have encouraged me to pursue my dream job - a pediatric oncologist. Whenever I tell a person that being a doctor is something I am thinking about I immediately get the warning of student loans and long schooling and insurance issues,etc. Before, I let these warnings affect my decision and started second guessing myself. But now, after my service, I realized that I do not care how long and strenuous the process is or how hard I am going to have to work for it and how many sacrifices I will have to make, because I know it is something I will absolutely love. The service opportunities helped me to recognize this and have inspired me to take a step further. This summer I am going to shadow a PEDs cardiology nurse practitioner at Advocate Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn. I also hope to shadow a pediatric oncologist there. In addition, I want to work with campus ministry at Marist next year to develop a program that will visit the Ronald McDonald house in Oak Lawn. The program can hold fund raisers to raise money for the families staying there that they can use for food, clothes, transportation, or even Christmas gifts. The program can also take a monthly trip to the house to make dinner for the residents and spend time with the kids there.

Whatever I choose to do in the future, I am grateful that I had these service opportunities because they have shown me that if I do what I love - I will be happy, and that's all that matters.

Reaction to Yik Yak

The Yik Yak article actually surprised me a lot. I was disturbed by the way college students were using the app, yet the founders said that high school students were too immature for the app? I honestly cannot even think of another situation more immature than the ones that occurred at Eastern Michigan University, Middlebury College, and countless other schools around the U.S. Despite the ridiculing and mocking that occurs over the app, it cannot due to the Freedom of Speech amendment. Now, I completely understand this, people should have the right to say whatever they so please, but why the anonymity? This app is so popular because everyone that participates remains anonymous, otherwise it would be just like Twitter. Many people are drawn to it because of this anonymity aspect, because they do not have to take ownership or responsibility for their poisonous words. But why? Why don't they just post it on Twitter? Probably because they know that what they are saying is most likely inappropriate, disrespectful, and just down right unacceptable in today's society - so they hide behind a screen like a coward. If they want to say these horribly awful things about students, teachers, and other faculty members, then they should have to do so without remaining anonymous. If they are not going to suppress their immature comments or mask their opinions, then they should not mask their identity either.

Initial Response Language, Power, and Freedom

Language and power are closely related. Many people, like politicians, use language as a means not only to deliver their point of view, but also to persuade others to have that same point of view. Politicians use their language and speeches to gain support or power. Therefore, language is used to gain power. If language is used in an effective, skilled manner, it has the potential to spark movements, challenge the status quo, and make long lasting impacts. Think back in history - Jonathan Edwards, colonial preacher, delivered one of the most famous speeches ever: "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," that to this day is widely read and studied. Edwards use of compelling language helped to initiate The Great Awakening and encouraged thousands of Christians to practice their religion more fervidly. Other influential sermons were given during this period and they all contributed to the Great Awakening. It was these speeches, with carefully crafted language, that gained power for the movement - proving that language really does gain power.

Language also has the ability to liberate. Not everyone has wealth, not everyone has great jobs, and not everyone has the same privileges, but everyone does have their voices and freedom of speech. Everyone has the ability to use language and when used right, it can can break the bondage of oppression and aid in freeing people. Martin Luther King Jr. gave powerful speeches, like "I Have a Dream", to fuel the civil rights movement that helped blacks gain an equal place in society.

Life Begins at the End of Your Ccomfort Zone

26 students. 5 chaperones. 1 unbreakable bond. All because we stepped out of our comfort zones.

Back in December I was overwhelmed with excitement when I found out I had been selected to go on the New Orleans mission trip. I saw the list and I was surprised because there were many unfamiliar names. Some of the people on the list I was close friends with, some I knew from classes, some I knew of, and others I knew nothing about. Not only did I truly not know some of the people on the list, but I’ll admit I also had some preconceived judgments. And yet ironically, people who were once strangers to me, I now call some of my greatest friends. How you might ask? By stepping out of my comfort zone. One important lesson can be learned from the trip – it is necessary to step out of your comfort zone in order to fully take advantage of every situation.

We arrived at Camp Restore around 9:00P.M. on February 10. We were shown to our rooms and received a quick tour of the grounds. Camp Restore was located in an area greatly devastated by Hurricane Katrina.  Originally, Camp Restore had been a Lutheran elementary school, but it was converted into a place where volunteers from all over the world could stay for a cheap price, eat three meals a day, and receive local assignments. After finishing the tour, we all settled into our rooms and met in the chapel for nightly prayer. During this prayer service, we were all handed a piece a paper and on this piece of paper we were to write one thing that was holding us back or something we feared about the trip. When we were ready to let go of this fear or worry, we walked to the front and burned the paper with a candle. Personally, I worried about the schoolwork I would be missing, but more importantly I worried about keeping an open mind. Keeping an open mind is the first step in leaving your comfort zone. By keeping an open mind, one is more readily able to do unimaginable things and truly be themself. I wanted to be open to all the extraordinary people and situations I would soon encounter. So I walked up to the candle, and I watched my piece of paper be gobbled up into oblivion. My worries sifted slowly from me and I became more confident in myself.

After prayer we headed back to the room. The room was packed with 16 sets of bunk beds, on which were sprawled all sorts of messages from previous campers. But one message, made by a certain visitor from Canada, stood out to all of us: life begins at the end of your comfort zone. We all knew how meaningful the quote was, and we all knew the significant impact it would make on ourselves and others if we actually lived it. Stepping out of one’s comfort zone means more than keeping an open mind – it means being one’s true self, it means not fearing the judgment of others, it means fully experiencing every situation.

For the rest of the trip, everyone opened up and showed their true selves, not a single judgment was passed about anyone. Immediately we felt comfortable dancing in front of each other, singing in front of each other, sharing embarrassing stories, creating numerous inside jokes, and doing jobs on the sites that we normally would not have done. For instance, scooping horse poo was previously not my ideal way to spend a Saturday, but I stepped out of my comfort zone and with the help of everyone else, we made that day a blast. Each day new groups were created so everyone had the chance to work with one another. And each day I made new friends. Though I barely knew some of the people in my groups, the conversation never ended. We talked about all sorts of things on the job sites and I got to know everyone a little bit better. On the final night of prayer, we gathered in the chapel and went around in a circle saying what we were thankful. Everyone easily recognized how quickly we all became such great friends and we all attributed that to stepping out of our comfort zones. At that point, we decided to make the quote “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone,” the motto of the entire trip. We promised each other that we would continue to stretch our boundaries and be examples for others to do so as well.

I am aware of how cliché it all sounds but no one will understand the significance of stepping out of their comfort zone unless they do so themselves. Stepping out of our comfort zones allowed us to make the most of our trip, it created countless more memories, sparked many more smiles, and formed numerous more friendships. Stepping out of one’s comfort zone allows one to experience new things, meet new people, and take advantage of absolutely every situation that comes one’s way. Fear of judgment can restrict one from exceeding their comfort zone but soon after, worries, doubts, and fears vanish. Bottom line, stepping out of one’s comfort zone allows one to take advantage of every situation and to truly live. I did, and I made 26 new friends and had the experience of a lifetime.

 

 

Rise from Poverty

Right now, the debate over raising the minimum-wage is sweeping the nation. New York Times writer, Steven Greenhouse, explores how parents across America are finding it almost impossible to support their families on the minimum wage in his article: Low-Wage Workers Are Finding Poverty Harder to Escape.

In Chattanooga, Tennessee one woman relies on food stamps and other financial aid in order to support her son and daughter on her $9 an hour salary at a nursing home.  A divorced man, had to quit school and pick up a $9 an hour restaurant job in order to support his daughter, while living in his parent's basement. These families and many more constantly rely on public aid, but not by choice. Though they want to make better lives for themselves they are burdened by the scarcity of opportunities to do so.

"Poverty, Inc." showcased the negative effects that constant donations and handouts had on third world countries and their economies. For example, it closes businesses, disrupts work ethic, and even dehumanizes people because "no one wants to be a beggar for life." We have a similar- though not so extreme- case here in America. Sure, we have many forms of public aid available to border line poverty citizens. However, are we truly fixing the problem, or just making it worse? Maybe a rise in minimum wage truly is the answer? Or maybe it's something more?

Families that border the poverty line usually don't have the same opportunities as others. Therefore, instead of more public aid and raising the minimum, we should give these people more accessible opportunities at education. Most minimum wage workers don't have a college degree. Instead of investing money into raising the minimum and sustaining these low-wage jobs, the government should be investing money into education. So that people can obtain better jobs and make a living on their own. After all, an increase in wage could actually put more employees out of jobs because a company has to pay its employees more.

Like in "Poverty, Inc." we need to help people rise from poverty and create better lives, not continue their lives of eternal begging.

Wanted: Great Leader

Chaos was unleashed last night not only in Ferguson, but also in major cities across America like Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and New York City, after a grand jury decided not to charge Officer Darren Wilson for the death of Michael Brown. The decision sparked anger and frustration in many people that spread like wildfire throughout America, initiating protests and riots. Though “in most places the demonstrations were peaceful,” in Ferguson, Missouri: “Shops were looted and burned on Ferguson’s main street. There were smoke bombs, tear gas, thrown rocks and random gunshots. In Ferguson, the aftermath of the shooting death of Michael Brown was almost as bitter and hollow as his killing itself.”

John Eligon of The New York Times tells all about these protests in his recent article In Protests from Midwest to Both Coasts, Fury Boils Over. Eligon provides commentary from many protestors, rioters, or witnesses to the spectacle that happened. Many claimed it wasn’t about it looting or expression of ideas, but it was to demand fairness in a powerful way. One man said, “This is not about vandalizing, this is about fighting a police organization that doesn’t care about the lives they serve.” They all had one thing in common: they felt the demonstrations and they themselves were a part of something longer. One man interestingly added, “The Selma marches, and Martin Luther King, and the civil rights activists, but now, this is life. This is history. I’m just out here really as a witness.”

Could this decision really provoke the need for change in the system and therefore make history, like the man suggests? But the even more pressing question is if so, what great leader will do so? Jackie Robinson, Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks are not only examples of hard working activists who had the courage to speak out and act against the injustice of discrimination, but also models of pure greatness. The disruptive and destructive protests that took place last night caused much controversy throughout the country and it seems as though this tactic might not prove to be the most effective. What is needed is a leader. A leader with the courage to take on this factious topic and the drive to persevere through the obstacles that lay ahead. A leader that has clear, moral goals and productive means of reaching them. What is needed is someone great. If this problem persists, someone will need to rise above the rest. Who will be the modern day Martin Luther King Jr., or Jackie Robinson, or Rosa Parks? Who will show the qualities of greatness?

Service and Greatness part 2

Last Thursday was my final scheduled date of volunteering at St. Margaret of Scotland, and I have to say I’m a bit heartbroken that I have to leave those lighthearted kids.  In the time spent with them, I discovered many aspects of greatness, but a select few stood out to me.

I’m sure that at one point or another we have all heard the saying, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” My experience at St. Margaret proved this saying to be completely accurate. By tutoring the children, they developed a sort of dependability on me. I was the one to help them solve that complex math problem or pronounce that difficult word, not their classmate or teacher- but me. This showed me that greatness comes not only with a sense of responsibility, but also selflessness. A great person needs to recognize how important and influential they are in others’ eyes and then devote themselves wholeheartedly into setting an example for others to follow. The kids at St. Margaret were absolutely fascinated by us “high school” kids; they wanted to know where we went to school, how old we were, what sports they played, what music we liked, what subjects we liked, etc. I could tell they truly looked up to us and we were role models to them. I felt it was my obligation and responsibility to be a good role model to them in every way possible because everything I did influenced them in some sort of way.

I also recognized that a great person needs to be selfless. Yes, there were days I was crunched for time due to overflowing homework and a long soccer practice, but I made time for the kids. I always made time for them because they depended on me, and I was not going to let them down. If that meant sacrificing twitter time, or refraining from watching the next episode of Gossip Girl-then so be it. A great person needs to be able to put aside their own wants and needs, for the needs of others and the common good. Every time I left, a few kids would look at me with sad little puppy eyes and ask if I’d be back. This always left me with such a rewarding feeling-a feeling of value, of purpose. It felt so good knowing that someone depended on me and I was genuinely happy that I could make a person feel that way.

My experience perfectly exhibits that even the littlest actions can make a significant impact. This experience left me with a desire to do more, to continue to help my community. Because being great is not a one and done thing. Being great is not doing one colossal deed then sinking back into normal life. Being great is consistently seeking to push yourself- bettering yourself and those around you. Being great is never resting on your laurels. Being great, is simply, being a better you. You don’t need to be great to millions; you only need to be great to a few because I guarantee that your actions will continually affect more people than you think. Being great doesn’t have to be large scale, as long as it betters someone or something. There are countless ways to bring greatness into your ordinary lives, and change them into extraordinary lives. Stop making excuses. Stop waiting. Make it happen. How will you be great today?