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STUDENT REFLECTIONSBelow are quotes from some of our 2010 Senior Christian Service Reflection Papers:
What Our 2010 Graduates Say“Service is one of the great aspects in the job description of a Christian; it is what we are taught to do and it is the glue that holds this fragile world together. At Central Catholic High School we are taught as young Christians to perform service, to help the poor and the needy, and assist in improving the state of society. Sure, we might be “forced” as freshman to perform service, but it is with the intent that we will see the greater ulterior motive and embrace our commitments willingly and wholeheartedly.” Jared Perkins ’10“Service can be seen as an invitation toward hope. The more I lift others up, the happier I will be. In religion class, I learned that virtues are habits that lead to happiness, which explains why the Catholic Church calls service a virtue. Service is a habit that I have come to value, and I will continue to value it for the rest of my life. One of the virtues I value most is service for others. I do not mean enlightened self-interest, where I only help others if I can also help myself. I mean doing service in the manner of true altruism, acting out of complete and utter selflessness. Service, Christianity, and any pure act of goodness, for that matter, depend upon altruism. When we act altruistically, we live a life of hope. This is the highest point of morality for which I strive. I am not responsible for the state of the world, but I will take a stand, and service for others is the noble way I can make a difference.” Carolyn Green ’10“I know how I want to contribute to the community after I graduate from Central Catholic and I hope the Central Catholic community continues to grow in service as I did throughout my high school career. Relationships with teachers, students, and close friends grew stronger because of my time spent with them while performing service. We grew closer and all had the opportunity to know each other on a different level.” Katherine Marquiss ’10“Central Catholic has given me the gift of service … Now that I have felt the compassion of others through service, I will never cease to continue my service … Finishing my service at Central Catholic is a fulfillment that can never be matched by any material or individual pleasure. Service is something greater than me. The experience of service is something that no one can ever take from me. I will have this accomplishment in my soul for the rest of my life. It is a sense of selflessness that ruminates within me. This aura of altruism cannot be explained; however, it can be exemplified through the happiness and smiles of others.” Kirk Paul ’10“I am appreciative for the experiences I have encountered in my community through the hours that I volunteered. When Woodrow Wilson spoke about community he stated, ‘We cannot be separated in interest or divided in purpose. We stand together until the end.’ Central has taught adolescents how helping others and being involved in their communities allows them to grow together. Now that I am in my senior year, I have discovered the true value in this lesson. This will continually affect my decisions in life, and for this I will be forever enthusiastic about serving others.” Channing Marineau ’10“At Central Catholic, I have noticed there has been emphasis on the Beatitudes every year, in each of my religion classes. The Beatitudes are guidelines for how to live a moral life and help improve the lives of others. Every service project I have participated in reflects back on a beatitude. While volunteering at the hospital, I was visiting the sick. Passing out gifts at Catholic Charities was a way to help clothe the naked and feed the hungry … I am glad to have had the opportunity to attend Central Catholic and perform service with my peers.” Jordan Anderson ’10“Service at Central Catholic, as well as what I have learned throughout my religion classes, has inspired me to continue giving back to the community. I plan to encourage my peers to be active in the area of community service so that together we can make the wider world a better place. More hands accomplish more work. Together we can continue to solve the injustices of the world and right the wrongs of the lives of so many.” Elliott Wiitala ’10“Over my many hours of community service, whether waiting tables at All Saints or volunteering with the Special Olympics, I have come to find out a lot about myself. I never thought I would be a person involved with community service. I believe that service has helped me to open up as an individual. I have become more outgoing and an all around better person. I am able to come out of my shell with strangers more than previously and get involved in more activities than I did in the past. Service gives us all a sense of accomplishment and a feeling that we did just help somebody with their day. It may be cliché, but if we all gave a little piece of our time we could all live in a better world.” Steven Evans ’10“Service can be viewed in many ways. Some carry the hopeless attitude that there are so many problems in the world that one act of service is never going to fix anything. I believe, however, that if we all do a little bit it will amount to a lot. I plan to continue my growth through service, and I appreciate all Central Catholic has helped me see in myself and in my service experiences. I choose to live my life in service and I hope to inspire others to do the same.” Siobhan O’Malley ’10“Throughout my years at Central Catholic High School, one of the most important lessons I learned was the value of service to others. Service is a small gift of gratitude and thankfulness for the many lessons and experiences I encountered throughout these four life changing years. I was grateful to create new friendships and expand existing ones. I believe it is important to experience community service when we are young and impressionable. Through service, I was given the opportunity to expand my horizon, stretch my comfort zone, and venture out into the world to find out where my passion truly lies when it comes to how and where I want to devote my time and energy. I am proud to say that I attended Central Catholic because I know my horizons were broadened by miles, not only with service, but in the growth and development of my spiritual and religious life as well.” Kaitlin Inglesby ’10“Service has always been a large part of my life. I enjoy the time when I can help others have an easier time coping with life. Service is not a time to be self-centered or selfish; it is a time to reflect on the tiny details that make life easier for all of us. It continually gives me new and interesting experiences that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.” Anastasia Stepankowsky ’10“Participating in community service over the last four years at Central has made a great impact on my life and my growth as a human being. I have become an important part of a new community at Forward Stride, but most of all, I have learned more about myself as a person. Doing service went from being a chore to a high point in my weekly schedule. I have learned to accept what I am blessed with and not take anything for granted in life. I have learned to open my heart up to others to share my passion and knowledge, especially of horses, with others.” Savannah Whisler ’10“I am proud to say that I am part of the Central Catholic community that gives so many of their hours of volunteering every year to people who need it.” Sam Mendez ’10“Throughout my years here at Central Catholic, I have learned selfishness never gets you far. By the end of my time here at Central I had made Varsity Cross Country, been the Editor-in-Chief of a newspaper, and achieved good grades. However, I was more thankful for my time with Hank at the visitor’s desk. I was the most proud of myself when I wrote a convincing Santa letter to a kid in Ms. Ramsey’s class. I was the happiest watching the sunset over the Tijuana hills knowing I had created something good. Central Catholic has given me more than achievement and success. This school has allowed me to find happiness and purpose with my life. I hope that I can continue to lead a life for others.” Brenna Holland ’10“There are four ‘motivators’ for the responses to suffering: hopelessness, individualism, enlightened self-interest, and compassion. Focusing on individualism and compassion, these two motivators exemplify the connection between service and justice. Individualism is a rationalization used to ease one’s conscience and do nothing. Coming up with an excuse to not be involved with fighting injustice goes hand in hand with Social Darwinism—the survival of the fittest. People come up with excuses about a person or a problem so they do not have to be involved with the situation. In John 12:34, Jesus gave us a new commandment, and that was ‘to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.’ We can best love God by loving and serving others. Compassion means to live and love selflessly and to do something in the face of suffering because it is the right thing to do. Serve others just as Jesus taught us to do by fighting injustice.” Katrina Combs ’10“Had service not been a Central Catholic High School requirement, I would have continued on with the independent projects I participated in, but would have missed out on the school-sponsored ones. For this reason, I am grateful that my school has the community service program that it does, and I in no way regret my decision to attend. It is not possible to know whether the amount of service I would have completed elsewhere would have matched the hours I completed over these four years, but what I learned is that the important thing is not how many hours one serves, it is to become someone like Jerry who give to his or her community and expects nothing in return; someone who will not think of one’s own needs before helping those who truly need help. No matter my grades, place of residence or paycheck, I will always have these goals.” Preston Fosbeck ’10“Poverty hurts everyone in society, not just the poor. In working with the students at Operation E.A.S.Y. as well as the Helen Gordon School, I see that we are teaching children valuable lessons that could help ride the world of poverty.” Josh Christophersen ’10“I know I would have volunteered even if it was not a school requirement, but I do not think I would have experienced all the service organizations I have in my past four year at Central Catholic. Volunteering has impacted my life in countless ways and for those reasons I will continue to volunteer. Serving others has shaped me into a responsible young adult. I know serving others will always be a part of my life.” Marie David ’10
“Throughout my four years of service, my understanding of community and service has grown drastically. I have matured as well as become more aware of the injustices that are present within today’s society. I have discovered my limits, as well as what service I enjoy to partake in. After having reflected on my service, I have also witnessed the religion courses intent to open our eyes slowly, but surely, to those parts of our world that are both good and those that need improvement. I cannot ask for a better, more challenging, eye opening experience than the service projects I did while at Central Catholic.” Chris Mannenbach ’10“From my four years of service at Central Catholic, I have gained invaluable experience and learned an immense amount about others and myself. The importance of performing community service cannot be understated. By completing volunteer work, students of Central Catholic are able to share their gifts and attitude with the entire community. The most important of Jesus’ teachings is for human beings to love each other as they would love themselves and to love one another as God love them. Jesus depicted the importance of giving wholly of one’s self to the community, for the greatest good. Jesus lived this out by sacrificing himself on the cross to forgive our sins. Throughout high school, I have come to understand the necessary sacrifices I have made and must continue to make, for it is my duty to my brothers and sisters walking this earth with me.” John Farley ’10“My service experience at CCHS has been a diverse one. I would say that my service has spanned a lifetime because I unknowingly worked with life at every stage. At the Catholic Charities home for unwed mothers: babies, at Operation EASY and the Boys and Girls Club: children and adolescents, adults at the Daughters of Norway dinner and the Catholic Charities house, and finally the old and dying at Hospice House. I have been given the opportunity to observe how dignity is upheld at every stage of life through service. I have leaned many lessons in my time at CCHS, though the one of service to others is unique. I plan to continue performing service throughout my college years and look forward to the opportunities it brings.” Cassie Brandes ’10“There are innumerable reasons that service is beneficial to the individual and to the community. One of the more subtle reasons that service is often an incredibly rewarding experience is that it connects us with others, the world, and ourselves. I have often felt a zeal for life in serving at Blanchet House and other places. The patrons and fellow volunteers who I have met have challenged me to branch out and experience a deeper, more real view of life. These people are friends who share a common interest in helping others. I know that when I need someone to help me in my time of need, they will be there for me. Service has allowed me to see the world beyond the small sphere I am required to occupy. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to partake in such thrilling new things and hope that I will be able to continue doing so.” Peter Slauson ’10“Service is an integral part of not only growing spiritually but maturing into a functioning member of society as well. Walt Whitman summed up the value of performing service when he said ‘The habit of giving only enhances the desire to give.’ This statement extends to the Central Catholic community as well. Being a school that stresses service creates a contagious atmosphere of giving and acceptance. Having the experience of helping others instills within people the values of empathy and a concern for the common good.” Nay’Chelle Harris ’10“I believe that by volunteering I am making a difference in people’s lives. Central Catholic played a big role in my life because it is the place where I was introduced to community service. I did not know the true meaning of helping others until I began volunteering. God brought me onto this earth so that I may carry out His works, and I am very happy to do so. I will continue to volunteer during college and possibly afterward because it gives my life purpose. Albert Einstein once said, ‘Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.’ I believe that throughout my four years of community service at Central Catholic, my life has become worthwhile.” Samantha Snaer ’10“I believe that service to others is one of the greatest things one can do in their life. No matter what way it is done or how small a deed; real, true service to others only improves the world as a whole.” Seamus O’Callghan ’10“Despite our fortune in being born into such a wealthy culture, it is not our place to look down upon or pity those who are less fortunate. It is our job to be compassionate citizens who look to improve the lives of others.” Jacob Zinsli ’10Throughout the last few years, service has shaped the goals that I want to achieve in the future and who I would like to become: a person who helps people. My passion for caring for others, especially children, has driven me to pursue a career as a pediatric nurse. My experience and growth in service has strengthened the importance of serving others in my life as well as in my future.” Ali Wrede ’10“Service has to do with the Christian value of hope more than any other value. Service is, to me, about hoping that I can help another person and help myself move closer to God … I can hope the works of my hands have some lasting meaning greater than that which I give them. This hope is what makes service a good Catholic practice.” Michael Villafranca ’10“Through my volunteer work over the last four years, I have learned what it means to be a genuine human being. By focusing my time on the betterment of others, I have bettered myself, and I hope to continue performing community service for the rest of my life in big ways and small.” Riley Stevenson ’10“From start to finish, my time with the Christian Service Program has encompassed three year, seven months, and three days. I feel tremendously proud of the time I have spent over that period working with organizations and individuals in need, but service has helped me as much as I have helped others. I use words such as growth and exploration to describe the last few years, but those phrases in reality do not even begin to encompass the journey I have taken. Looking back now as a senior, every service project I completed, every hour spent at work, represents one milestone in my evolution into a more compassionate and well-rounded individual … I still have so much to learn, places to experience, and people to meet. I leave Central Catholic thankful of the opportunity to have been given to help others in society. Thank you.” Stuart Haruyama ’10“When people ask me what I have enjoyed about Central, the first words out of my mouth are ‘I love the Christian Service requirement, it’s been great.’ Service has been invaluable for not only shaping my own life, but also allowing me to put my desire for social justice into action. I consider myself to have always been socially conscious, but finally being connected with people who share that desire for justice and actually going out to change the state of the world has been so gratifying (which is a tremendous, tremendous understatement).” Cam Kiley ’10“The service I have done over the past four years has opened my eyes to the positive and negative things happening in our community. In addition to becoming aware, I feel as though my service has helped me enhance my leadership skills, which are essential to making a difference in the community and creating a just world.” Ivy Kiley ’10“I do not believe that we need an organization to do some good for this world. All we need is a lot of motivation and a little bit of faith. Through Central, my father, my family, and my friends I have found that true power lies in true sacrifice. Whether we choose to sacrifice a small amount of free time or we end up giving our life, we were made to serve. If I could pick the most important lesson high school has taught me, it would be this, ‘A life not lived for others….is not a life at all.’” Sean Kollman ’10“Completing four years of service at Central Catholic has matured me greatly, and has also given me confidence within myself and confidence in other people. Additionally, service has taught me humility. I believe that all service humbles us. Service makes us feel like whole people, and it also makes us aware of social justice issues that need improvement. I am extremely happy that service was required because it changed my perspective about Christian relationships and improving the community.” Bridget Dailey ’10“By being able to humble myself and help those less fortunate, I was provided with a sense of gratitude and understanding of God’s call to serve others, the core of Christian faith. I am so glad that the service requirement pushed me into action, because without, I believe I would have lacked the motivation to begin volunteering … More broadly, I believe that by requiring all students to complete some form of service, the school not only serves the broader community, but also opens up the hearts of students to the injustices of the world. It calls us to help those less fortunate, and contribute our time and energy to ebb the impact these injustices have on the people of the world.” Olivia Gust ’10“Overall, service was an exceptionally meaningful experience for me. I learned numerous lessons that I will keep with me for the rest of my life and use to continue my growth as a person … I would just like to express how much service has meant to me and would like to extend my feelings of gratitude to all the people who helped make my service experience at Central Catholic as fulfilling and rewarding as possible. I feel that after serving I have changed and will never be the same, and for that I am thankful, for I am a better person because of it.” Bryson Koch ’10 |
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