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After the campus residence halls closed down at the end of my junior year, I moved into the Main South neighborhood, spent the summer working as an aide for Councilor Haller, and continued to strive to live up to the Jesuit mission of “men and women for others.” Through the Chaplains’ office, I received a Lilly Fellowship to work on community issues throughout the summer. I was also awarded a Marshall Grant, which I used to develop a “Quality of Life” survey for the city’s Green Island neighborhood, a community located about five minutes from campus. This neighborhood is comprised of many different ethnic groups, is mostly low-income, and is in need of more political support. My survey was designed as a means of understanding the special needs and desires of a specific neighborhood. Our instrument proved successful—we received many responses and held a community meeting to address significant issues that residents raised. The meeting was attended by state Sen. Edward Augustus, state Rep. John Fresolo, several city councilors, some city administrators, and many community people.
I have been fortunate both to work with Councilor Haller and to attend a college that encourages active student engagement in the community. I know that throughout all my work both on and off campus, I have had solid support from Holy Cross administrators, faculty and staff—and that has made all the difference.
One such person has been Kathy Robertson, special assistant to the president for community and governmental affairs, who has taught me a great deal. Through people like Kathy, I have found Holy Cross to be a place where you can strive, take risks, seek new and challenging experiences—knowing all the while that there are supportive people right behind you, ready to pick you up when you fall, or give you that nudge when you need to pick up the pace.
It is regularly said that college is where people grow and find themselves. I would say that I always knew I wanted to help people in low-income neighborhoods—similar to the one in which I grew up—but I didn’t have the necessary tools. Now, after four years, I may not yet have all the tools, but I have definitely matured and gained skills that will allow me to be successful in my community. It was Holy Cross that gave me the opportunity to attain not only a great education but also to discover the hidden treasure that Worcester turned out to be. I realize that this is not New York City, but this is Worcester—and now I am very happy to grab a hot dog at Coney Island anytime. |
