1. What are you involved in on campus?
I’ve played varsity football for four years, I’m on the leadership committee, and I’m also one of the leaders of the student run organization Athletes In Action (AIA).
2. How has being involved inspired and affected you?
I think playing football has affected me great deal. Football has motivated me to pursue greatness and persevere in all areas of my life. The loyalty, brotherhood, discipline, humility, and character that you develop with being part of a team cannot be replaced. The lessons I’ve learned through the challenges and struggles that I have faced with my team on the field correlate directly with the day-to-day challenges of college life. That sounds very cliché, but it is so true. I couldn’t imagine going through college without being part of a team.
What’s inspiring for me about being involved on campus is seeing people grow and experiencing personal growth. As a member of a team or an organization on campus, you’re building relationships with so many different types of people and you are constantly receiving and contributing new perspectives. When I see my peers maturing and growing that inspires me to do the same. Being involved with Athletes In Action the last three years has definitely facilitated personal growth. Seeing a group of fellow U of R athletes, connected through faith, seeking to better understand and live out there faith together has definitely inspired and encouraged me.
3. I know you traveled abroad, where did you go and did those places leave any lasting impact on you
My second semester junior year I studied abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. It was incredibly; Cape Town is an amazing place to live. It has unreal natural beauty and an extremely vibrant, lively culture (if you study abroad GO TO CAPE TOWN!). It was the best time of my life. At the same time my experiences in Cape Town really challenged me personally in many ways. Every day you have two extremes of social class thrown in front of you; excessive wealth and extreme poverty. Celebraties on vacation are driving on the highway past thousands of shacks on there way to and from the airport to there luxury homes in Camps Bay. The disparity between socials classes is incredible. I had the opportunity to work in the impoverished townships surrounding Cape Town through two different nonprofit after school programs, the Amy Biehl Foundation and SHAWCO. Through these experiences, I saw first hand what real poverty looked like. Two families of eight or more people living in a three room house. They had nothing, but were still so joyful, loving and generous. Going back and forth between these two worlds made me question the way I was living my life. Was I really grateful for what I had? Did I really need all of this? Why do these people who have so little seem so much happier them the people that have so much more than them? How can others see this every day and not help? Why was I blessed with so much and know that I’m aware, what will I do about it?
Asking myself these questions ultimately lead to a change in the way I treated people. Cape Town helped me see beauty in each individual regardless of his or her social of physical condition. I believe that the drunk man passed out on the street is just as important as the privileged college kid with a bright future. One of my closest friends during my semester abroad was a 19-year-old named Mike. I first met Mike when he offered to help me carry my groceries home from the store. I was very reluctant at first because he was homeless. I often saw him sleeping outside the KFC down the road with his mom. Mike had lived on the streets ever since he was three, so for 16 years. I could have very easily pushed past Mike and ignored him like I had so many other homeless people in South Africa, but I’m so glad I didn’t. Getting to know Mike and becoming close friends with him impacted my life more than I could have ever imagined.
Looking foreword to the future as a senior in college I believe that my friendship with Mike and my experiences in the townships of South Africa have molded what I see my purpose in life to be. I live in the wealthiest, most influential countries in the world and attend one of the top schools in the nations. I live a pretty blessed life; however there are millions of people that live less fortunate lives. So I believe that I’m called to use the blessing that I’ve been given in my life to aid people less fortunate. Whether that’s through my career choice or just acts of kindness is irrelevant, but I know I’m not going to just mark it down my journal as another neat life experience and do nothing.
4. What are your plans for after college?
After college I want to work with refugees. Currently I’ve been applying to open positions within refugee resettlement agencies. I’ve applied to a number of agencies in the US as well as a couple overseas. One position is in Nairobi, Kenya working with Church World Services as a case manager and another is in Johannesburg, South Africa working with a local resettlement agency. I’ve also considered applying to the AmeriCorps Vista program. So we’ll see what pans out over the next month or so.
5. How would you encourage people to get more involved on campus?
I would say your time is limited so take advantage of it. There are so many cool opportunities and events happening on campus and the relationships you build through those are going to be what you take away from college. Stop and check out the bulletin boards and take time to read the Weekly Buzz. It’s important for your growth as a young adult to step out of your comfort zone and try new things. Expand your horizons.
Also stop playing video games and watching TV IT’S A WAIT OF TIME. GO LIVE YOUR LIFE! (unless its Mario-cart on N64)