As the child of professional parents, I, somewhat embarrassingly, never recognized the fortunes I took for granted in my daily surroundings and private school. Instead, I chose a path of least resistance, never challenging myself to truly make the most of opportunities. I took comfort in my insulated world of sports and friends from similar social and economic backgrounds.
When my sister asked me to accompany her to Ascension, an after-school enrichment program founded by St. John’s Parish for the children of Vernon Hill, I was scared, unsure and wondered what I …show more content…
John’s High School, the Xaverian Brothers’ mission to use one’s education to help others was an abstract concept and Vernon Hill was simply a low-income neighborhood that I drove through to get to lacrosse practice. I, admittedly, volunteered at Ascension to fulfill community service requirements. Now, as I prepare to graduate, the Catholic philosophy is no longer just words, the neighborhood is not just city squalor, and Rash is not just the boy I tutor. My afternoons mentoring Rash have been transformative. I have not been able to radically alter the stark realities of Rash’s circumstances, but I brought some joy and a glimpse of brighter future possibilities beyond the constraints of Vernon Hill. The initial service obligation flourished into the equally beneficial, life-changing opportunity to make a difference not only for Rash-Angel but for