http://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfmDiscover Program studentsblogFri, 05 Jun 2009 04:27:19 PSTslomele@scu.edu (Discover Program)Mon, 25 Sep 2006 04:29:57 PSThttp://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfm&c=792"I think balance is also commonly misunderstood as putting together a puzzle. One separates one's life into multiple pieces -- such as social justice, career, family, hobbies, faith, etc. These pieces are seen as mutually exclusive and are thus used to separate one's life into different segments in time and space. But I do not agree with this idea either. Rather, I think social justice should be thought of as influencing and driving virtually all aspects of one's life. In this sense, I see social justice as taking care of one another. I believe living social justice means fighting injustice and ignorance in all circumstances, and treating every person with genuine love and respect. ...Challenges that involve experiencing injustice or suffering therefore may also prove to be beneficial to us, if we have the willingness to channel those experiences towards good. They open our eyes to needs in ourselves and in the world, and they 'knock' us out of the complacency and ignorance of which we are all guilty." slomele@scu.edu (Brandon Au)http://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfm&c=792Mon, 25 Sep 2006 04:19:41 PSThttp://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfm&c=791"While attempting to cram a year's worth of physics classes into nine weeks of summer school, it hit me: maybe this medical path isn't right for me. It was an intensely frightening realization. There is a great degree of comfort in knowing that the next ten years (or so) of my life would be spent in school, and when I was finished I would be a doctor. If I gave that up, what would I do instead?" slomele@scu.edu (Anna Szarnicki)http://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfm&c=791Mon, 25 Sep 2006 04:15:10 PSThttp://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfm&c=793"Being true to oneself is the best advice I could give people. In truth one finds happiness, resolve and fulfillment. Being true to yourself allows you to fully explore your dreams and aspirations to new levels, and to never be wrong about yourself." slomele@scu.edu (Ryan Dote)http://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfm&c=793Mon, 25 Sep 2006 04:09:04 PSThttp://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfm&c=794"I come from a part of Los Angeles, where Black Americans are stuck in what is commonly referred to as the "cycle of oppression or poverty." Due to dangerous neighborhoods and low educational opportunities, many minorities in Los Angeles do not graduate from high school, and college is an unfamiliar vocabulary word. Having had the economic means and family support to go to college, due to my father breaking out of the "cycle," I feel as if I have a responsibility to obtain the highest level of financial success to give back to members of my community that did not have this same opportunity." slomele@scu.edu (Sydnie Mayo)http://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfm&c=794Mon, 25 Sep 2006 03:20:23 PSThttp://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfm&c=795 "It's hard to know how many sacrifices my parents made to make sure we had a comfortable lifestyle. When thinking about this, it makes it particularly hard to choose a vocation. There's a delicate balance between doing what you love and pleasing your family as well. But what is the balance? In the end, who should you please first, yourself or your parents?" slomele@scu.edu (Patty Hua)http://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfm&c=795Mon, 25 Sep 2006 03:16:08 PSThttp://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfm&c=797 "Teaching has always been a long time dream of mine. I didn't actively pursue it when I came to college because my father strongly disapproved because of teaching's financial implications (or lack there of). However, as I'm getting older I have started to realize that this life will be over in a blink of an eye and I'm not about to waste it." slomele@scu.edu (Alex Braunstein)http://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfm&c=797Mon, 25 Sep 2006 03:12:03 PSThttp://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfm&c=796 "In reflection over the years and in the beginning parts of this quarter I know that the person I want to be is someone who is honest with himself, "real" with others, follows his heart, lives with passion and serves those around him." slomele@scu.edu (John Burke)http://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfm&c=796Mon, 25 Sep 2006 03:09:23 PSThttp://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfm&c=790 Every week experiencing the amazing men and women that come before our class to candidly share about their lives truly leaves me invigorated. The other six days out of the week are typical of a college student. I work on-campus at our recreation center, I go to my classes, study, and partake in the weekly "Wednesday night social." While I am truly blessed with amazing and supportive friends and family, I feel that an aspect missing at times in my everyday life is my personal reflection of vocation and my future. I feel that I have a tendency, as I would assume most college students do, to be stressing about the immediate future and the trivial "drama," rather than on my life as a whole and my passions, gifts, deepest desires. But one day, Thursday, I have the opportunity and reminder to reflect on my own life and leaving our class I have more than a good reason to do so. One of the most profound stories that I have ever heard first handedly, a story that left me reflecting for more than one or two hours but instead kept a lasting impression in my heart was that of Fred Ferrer." slomele@scu.edu (Karri Iyama)http://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfm&c=790Mon, 25 Sep 2006 02:09:42 PSThttp://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfm&c=789"I have learned to implicitly trust myself more and more as the quarter has progressed. This is largely a result of my realizing there is more than one suitable path for my life. Listening to Fr. Locatelli was perhaps the most helpful exercise all quarter long. Seeing that he is such a prominent figure, I assumed he would have the answers and would be able to give us the formula for vocation and incorporating social justice into our lives. What I found is that by no means does he have the answers. He simply told his story and how he has found meaning in his life. He made it clear there is no one path, and this reassured me that everything will be okay." slomele@scu.edu (Steven Lomele)http://www.scu.edu/discover/rlcvocation/student_reflections_blog.cfm&c=789