In sophomore year, I went on YSOP, which was my first Loyola service trip. We started with an orientation which gave us a brief overview on poverty and hunger in New York City. I knew that this was an issue, passing homeless people on my way to school every day, but I did not understand the gravity of the problem, and how many people, and believe it or not, hard working people, that struggle with hunger and homelessness. Keeping this in mind, I tried my hardest to be as outgoing as possible when having a dinner party with homeless men from a shelter. One of the most heartbreaking moments was when one of the guests explained his fall to homelessness, losing his wife and daughter in a very short amount of time. Despite this, he continued to radiate such positivity and hope to all of us sitting with him. When listening to this man I couldn’t help but reflect on myself and the way I approach life. There are moments when I can feel so easily discouraged, whether it be with school, family, or friends. Simple things can put me in a bad mood, yet this man, who had lost so much, did not shut us out, or view life negatively, but rather, he inspired all of us to see the good in our lives. The next day, we broke up into different groups and volunteered at different service sites around the city. My group was sent to Creston Baptist Church in the Bronx, which, coincidentally, is a three minute walk from my apartment. Growing up, I passed this church many times, and I didn’t think much of it; it just looked like a regular church to me. While there, I helped prepare the tables and food for the people who would be coming in that day. Honestly, I didn’t think many people would show up. I didn’t think hunger was THAT big of an issue in my neighborhood, plus it was freezing outside. But trust me, I was wrong. Lines went out the door, people had to come in organized waves, and it seemed as though there was not enough food or time to help every one of them. When going out and serving these people food, I saw many familiar faces that I would pass on a regular basis. One struck me more than the others. When I was in middle school in the Bronx, I met this girl through a mutual friend. Fast forward to that day in the church, and I personally handed her and her family a meal. What are the odds? Thinking back, I get upset at the thought that so many people my age have to go without food, yet I have the privilege of telling my mom that I’m not hungry, or I don’t like the food she cooked that night. Jonathan, otherwise known as “Brostante,” is my 25 year old brother. Our hobbies and mutual interests include Mario Kart, roasting people while listening to music, and recently, discussing politics and current social justice issues. Last year, I came home after school a little annoyed over a class discussion had in Christian Service on institutional racism. Jonathan asked me what was on my mind, and then I proceeded to rant for a solid seven full minutes. He listened intently, waiting only until I was finished to say: “Why do you care so much? Focus on you instead of wasting time being upset over things you can’t change.” Well best believe I was more upset than I initially was and stormed off to my room.During the recent controversial presidential campaign, I noticed my Facebook feed full of politically infused articles and statuses. The surprise came when I noticed that one of these was shared by my brother, who usually remains quiet about his political affiliations and beliefs. As the campaign went on, his feed was taken up by one of two subjects: music and politics. I smiled, and had a little “I-told-you-so” moment that I kept to myself. Now, Jonathan and I still play Mario Kart, but often rant about politics while doing so. One of my inspirations in life has been Brandon Stanton. Who here follows HONY? I don’t mean Ms. Kusk’s History of New York Class, but the blog “Humans of New York.” Brandon Stanton has
spent the last seven years photographing strangers in New York City, and telling their stories. I think we should all strive to be a bit like Mr. Stanton. And no, I don’t mean becoming successful entrepreneurs and award-winning authors. I mean, yes, that’s great and all, but we should follow his blueprint in his approach to interacting with people. He doesn’t just photograph strangers, he takes the time to listen to them, and publishes their stories for the world to see. Every one of us has a story, and that holds true for every hungry, homeless, and economically unstable person we encounter. We can’t judge them based on their current situation, like with the man I met on YSOP, because we don’t know what they have been through. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been able to realize how unjust society can be. In a way, we can be like wild animals, clawing at every scrap of opportunity that presents itself to us. And in this wild animal kingdom, there will be those who don’t make it. But we are NOT wild animals. We are human beings, capable of compassion, self-awareness, and thought. These are traits that make us special, and we should not let them go to waste. It’s easy to say “This doesn’t affect me,” or “I can’t help everyone, so what’s the point?” but if we all stay in that mindset, there’s no way that any change can come around. Helen Keller once said “Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each other's welfare, social justice can never be attained.” Every one of us in this room has the capability to make a difference in some way, small or large, but we can make an even larger difference if we work together. Being at Loyola is a privilege, and acknowledging that is the first step. The next step is taking what we learn here, and serving humanity. Thank you.