I’m halfway though! Today I did something new. I spoke in front of an entire auditorium full
of parents and students at the closing of our Snowball retreat. I’ve spoken in public before, many times –
but the audience has usually been comprised entirely of teenagers, with
exception of a few colleagues. Today,
when the students’ parents came to pick them up from retreat, we put on an
hour-long presentation in order to share with the parents what Snowball is
about. The capstone of the presentation
is a twenty-minute talk on family life, and this year I was asked to give it.
I love writing talks when I’m asked to give them, but
presenting them is always a nerve-wracking experience. While once I’m up on stage or at a
microphone, I actually enjoy being up there, the minutes waiting for my turn
are always endless. This was especially
true today, as I had to share my story not just with students, but with a sea
of parents as well. The subject of my
talk was my family, and the relationship I have with both my parents and my
siblings, and I was guided by the theme of the retreat “I’m never changing who
I am.”
It was a gift to write the talk, as I was able to reflect on
each of my family members’ unique place in my life – and the ways in which,
both separately and together, they have helped to make me who I am today. It was also a gift to give it, as I welcome
any chance to share who I really am with my students and our school’s
community. I’d like to share just a
little bit of the talk with you all today – this is the closing of it:
“My
family has continued to be a driving force throughout my adult life. The gentle advice of my mother, the listening
ear of my father, and the inspiring influence of both my brother and my sister
have helped me continue to know who I am.
I’ve shared with you the story of her youth, but Eileen’s perseverance
as an adult is a constant inspiration.
Refusing to be hindered by her disability, or the preconceived notions
of others, Eileen has surpassed all expectations – except her own. She has a master’s degree in counseling
psychology, is a teacher respected and beloved by all her students, and is
looking forward to teaching her true passion – learners for whom English is a
second language. Eileen’s dedication to her
dreams reminds me that I must always continue to pursue my own.
I
have continued to learn from my brother in our adulthood as well. Michael’s dedication to his faith and his
service to his community are remarkable.
When he was just out of college, he spent two years teaching in Notre
Dame’s service learning program – the Alliance for Catholic Education or
ACE. Though he taught in a very troubled
school in Montgomery, Alabama, Michael never waivered in his commitment to his
students. Even as he faced his own personal health scare – Michael continued to
serve his school community during a time I’m sure I would have fallen apart. He shows a similar dedication in his work as
an admissions counselor. Michael might
be the greatest salesman of all time, but only when he is selling something he
loves, and he loves Notre Dame. He
believes passionately in the Catholic mission of the University and through his
work there, he has been able to foster his own journey of faith and service. Once, a friend of my brother’s whom I had
never met, came up to me at a Notre Dame football game. She said “So you’re Kathleen. I’d like to know what I have to do for my
brother to speak as highly of me as your brother does of you.” I was so
touched, and I would hope that others would say the same for how I speak of
Eileen and Michael. I aspire to be as
passionate, dedicated, and truly “good” as both my siblings are.
As
the Imagine Dragons theme song for this retreat states – “I may get a little
bigger” – or a little older – but “I’m never changing who I am.” My identity - who I am - has been so wholly
defined by my family – I would have trouble defining myself without them, and I
wouldn’t have it any other way. I only
hope and pray that someday I will build my own family with the grace, love,
faith and perseverance that my parents did.
In so many ways big and small, my family has given me the confidence to
define and create myself. Today, I
challenge you all to turn your minds to your families – whatever and wherever
they might be. Our families challenge
us, shape us, and truly make us who we are.
When and if you can, remember how those you love can be your backbone –
how they can remind you of and call you back to that person you truly are while
giving you the courage to assert “I’m never changing who I am.”
Thanks for reading, everyone – sorry for the delay in my
postings. I’m looking forward to the
next fifteen days – Happy Saturday!
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