During their freshman and sophomore years at Strake Jesuit, each student is required to complete 15 hours of community service. In the sophomore year service can focus on such charitable foundations as homeless shelters and soup kitchens, or on activities like tutoring underprivileged students. After my discernment I chose to volunteer my sophomore year at the Star of Hope Women & Family Center in downtown Houston, at the St. Vincent de Paul Organization, which is associated with St. Anne's Catholic Community in Tomball, and at Reach Unlimited, an organization that endeavors to improve the lives of handicapped adults.
At the Star of Hope Center, I assisted with serving meals to needy families. With St. Anne's St. Vincent de Paul Organization, I helped set up a cafe that provided food for the needy. At Reach Unlimited, I helped serve food to students at the organization's annual gala. I also worked in the main facility, helping the teachers prepare instructions as well as assisting them with mentoring student classes.
At times the poverty shocked me. I was serving food and the portions were so small I had no idea how somebody could survive off of it. I taught me that there is poverty everywhere even around the corner. These works showed me that while I live comfortably there are people who do not have those pleasures and that they need help.
These experiences have helped with my Jesuit education because of the experience of helping others who are in need. Jesuit education teaches to become a Man for Others and to help those who are in need. This idea has helped me to reach my long-term goals by allowing me to help the homeless and improve lives. Though not completely changing their lives completely it is good to know that I played a part in helping them to succeed.
This work impacted me by showing me that there are people who are in need. It has changed the way that I look at people who are on the street. I have wanted to do more since I did my work. These works have made me feel more responsible for helping those who are need help. These works have helped teach me that Catholicism does justice. The works of service I did helped to show me the importance that social justice in my faith and in my life.
My service works had a major impact on my life. The works showed me that there actually are people in need of help. It taught me to not to take things such as food for granted. It allowed me to help those who needed help. My work at Star of Hope and St. Vincent de Paul Organization allowed me to feed those who were hungry. My work at Reach Unlimited let me work with the mentally handicapped and showed me that just because they are different does not mean they are bad people. My works helped grow in my faith and gave me the opportunity to improve lives. I enjoyed my work and hope to do it again.
