Erika Moffa Commimtted to Justice

The following speech was presented to the Loyola community at morning assembly on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

“A Loyola Student is Becoming More Committed to Doing Justice”

by Erika Moffa (’14) “Committed to Doing Justice” is a unique phrase. The thought sounds ridiculous when said aloud, but it reminds me of superheroes, with their odd phrases that always end in something like “justice was served.” Their duties entail protecting the innocent people from all of the evils in the world. I guess, in a sense, it is how we should look at it, too. When each of us agrees to carry out the duties of helping those in need, we are beginning to commit ourselves to the protection of those who are oppressed by the unfair evils dealt their way.

Before Loyola, my encounters with people less fortunate than myself were practically nonexistent. The most service I had ever taken part in revolved around coaching 7 - 8 year old girls in cheerleading and talking to the elderly at the retirement home a few blocks away from my school (which I hardly counted as service because I used to view those visits as small play dates with other people’s grandparents.)

Therefore, when my sister, who went to Loyola, explained all of her experiences in service, I was obsessed. A huge compulsion came over me, and I knew I wanted to have those experiences too because they had such a great impact on her and her friends.

My very first real service encounter happened over YSOP my freshmen year when we cooked for and interacted with the homeless. I was beyond nervous because I have a tendency to speak without thinking, so I was afraid some insensitive or inappropriate questions would ramble out that would completely offend the person with whom I was speaking. However, after being paired with one of my friends and having a real conversation with one of the guests, I realized that these people were just like me.

The only difference is that they were dealt the wrong hand, or made a few wrong decisions that led them into an unfortunate situation. My fears were eliminated and I just wanted to know more about each person I spoke to.

Fortunately, I was able to carry that curiosity into other Loyola service opportunities such as January Camden, YSOP, and August Camden of last year. I also worked at ABC Day Care Center in Harlem during my sophomore year, caring for and playing with children whose parents could not afford the luxury of hiring baby sitters. I found it easy to brag that these service trips and placements completely molded my understanding of being committed to doing justice. I worked with people of similar backgrounds, each one with hard-working families that fell short of reaching what they needed, or families who had everything one day and were stripped of it all the next.

These were the people whom I considered “marginalized”, the people who I thought needed me to be committed to helping them.

Coming into junior year, I was frazzled about finding a placement that I would enjoy for the entire year. I desperately wanted to find a service placement that I would love. I must admit that I have an incredible fascination for those with autism. Their thought process and reactions captivate me completely. It was not until speaking to Mr. Bludgus that I realized that working with children of this nature could count for my hours. It was up then that I realized that the meaning of marginalized is not limited to those who are financially lacking. In fact, it includes those who are limited in other ways, too, including physical limitations. I am fortunate that Mr. Bludgus was able to point me in the direction of my placement, SNACK, that provides interaction with those type of children. It is a special needs activity center that works solely with children who are on the autism spectrum. I have never learned as much from any person or any placement as I have learned in my time there. Of all the service I have done thus far, my connections with the children I work with exceed any emotions I have ever felt during service work. I learn from them every Saturday. They have taught me that to be lacking in what may be considered “normal” skills is somewhat of a blessing rather than “an evil.” Some might consider disabilities to negatively take over the person’s life. The simplicity of their lives can seem sad, but what many people do not realize is how inspiring these children actually are. The love I have developed from forming relationships with them has defined the characteristic of being committed to doing justice for me. These relationships are what keep me coming back. I love nothing more than walking in every Saturday afternoon and watching a smile spread across Elijah’s face, the boy I work with most closely, and hearing him yell my name. Our service is not

just for those who are lacking in what society considers necessary, but instead, for those who are blessed with a special trait that is somehow able to secure a lock in each person they form connections with.

St. Ignatius once wrote, “God's purpose in creating us is to draw forth from us a response of love and service here on earth.” We are all drawn to different parts of life, and we are all called to take part in things we love. Our service in these categories thrives in the varied choices we make. All of my service opportunities during my time in Loyola have become such a strong aspect of my life that it has been added to some of the happiest moments I have experienced. I wouldn’t necessarily consider myself that big of a super hero, nor do I have a catchy phrase, but I’d like to think my actions have impacted others as much as others have impacted me. Thank you.