Eternally Grateful

Since beginning my year here in Syracuse with FrancisCorps, I have noticed tremendous growth in myself and have learned so much from my community and my service site. I remember being nervous yet excited about doing a year of service and moving to New York to live with a bunch of random strangers. I wasn’t sure how community would look with this new group after I had left a wonderful community with some of my closest friends back in Virginia. Many of these anxieties were alleviated on the very first night when we sat around the dining room table until almost 3 am talking and getting to know each other where I got to hear the most random fun facts about my new community members. After just a couple of days, I knew that I could begin to let my guard down and was excited that these people would be a part of my life going forward. I knew that in trusting in God and in the people around me, I would grow in great virtue.

Walking into CYO on my first day was also a bit overwhelming and nerve-racking because I had no clue what I was walking into and had not had any interactions with any of the people I would be working with for the next year. When I walked into the building with Cristo, who would also be working in CYO, we were greeted by many excited and busy faces. My first day began as soon as the tour of the building ended and I was promptly thrown in to co-teach the K-2 class as they began their last week of the summer academy that the youth program ran. I later learned that this trial by fire that continued into my first week would prepare me for the rest of the year as I needed to be quick on my feet and flexible as I taught my own class.

My experience with the youth program at CYO helped me to learn and grow in a multitude of ways as well as the community has. Through teaching my K-3 class in the morning academy, running family fun events, and assisting with random tasks to help students with jobs, college, or intakes with the school district. One of my favorite parts has been being able to work with certain families more, especially on Thursdays when we break up into groups based on the students’ native languages and I get the opportunity to help directly with the families that speak French by further explaining the content of the weekly lesson and answering questions about schools.

Once my year here ends, and I’ve done a little bit of fun traveling, I will be moving back in with my parents in Virginia. Here, I will begin a job as the Director of Youth Ministry at my home parish. This past year in Syracuse has radically changed my life for the better and has truly prepared me for future work and life in general. I am so grateful for the experience to serve the refugee youth community and to live alongside my community members, as well as grateful to the generosity of all those we encountered who assisted and guided us over this year.

Categories: General

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