Olivia Born

The Newman mission can relate to my CBSL in many ways. It begins by saying that we are created to serve God. I believe that serving God can take place in various forms. Ultimately living by the bible and following God’s laws are good ways to ensure we serve God. If we are capable of sharing and supporting those in need, then there is no reason why we should not try. Further, into the statement, it says, “I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.” I believe that this line encourages us to connect with others. When we help those that need it, we can create bonds and develop friendships. However, in order to connect we have to make an effort to help. This might mean going out of our comfort zone. I can relate this aspect to my CBSL because sometimes I am put in an uncomfortable position while I try to communicate with my mentor or just be in an environment with women and children who live such a different life compared to my own. Despite these factors, I have learned that it is more beneficial for myself and for my project when I go outside of my comfort zone. Without going outside my comfort zone, I would not be able to make connections, and therefore, I would not understand the reason I was serving to begin with. I serve for the women and children to try to make their lives better, the same way Jesus served others to make my life better. Lastly, a simple line that I like to follow is “I shall do good.” That is “My Mission” for my CBSL, to do good. I want my good actions to impact their lives for the better. I want to spread the goodness of God through my service in the hopes that others will choose to do the same.

Bella Erwin

The prayer “My Mission” by Blessed John Henry, Cardinal Newman, embodies the virtues I try to apply to my service project Pretty TOUGH. My sophomore year, I had a calling from God to work with girls in an empowerment group when I watched Claire Daniels give her CBSL presentation. I knew it was what I wanted to do because of my love for the feminist movement. I also remembered how difficult it was to go through middle school surrounded by pressures from social media and peers. No one else was interested in a project like mine, so I knew God had committed me to this service.

God has given me this mission. I don’t know why and I don’t know what I am meant to accomplish, but as long as I can create close relationships with the girls in my group I will be happy. I want to trust in God that the service I do is worthy. God already blessed me with a donation from Bobby Platt in honor of Claire Daniels. I will continue doing God’s work by building, painting, and planting flowers around a new bench for her remembrance.

I may have some struggles throughout this project, but the Lord “knows what He is about.” I may feel hopeless or believe that I am not making a change, but He has a plan for me and I am on the right path. I always want to be capable of noticing God’s callings and committing to his service.

Josh Thompson

John Henry Cardinal Newman’s “My Mission” underlines living a life of integrity and service to others. He highlights his role as a link in a chain and his importance in playing his role in the community. He also talks about how he was given different work than others. Similarly, my CBSL is giving what I was gifted to do to others. My project is my work to help inspire students to create and explore. I believe that my project is greatly impacting our community. John Henry Cardinal Newman also talks about his role in pleasing the higher power. I believe that by committing to service for others I am putting in the work that I should. I believe that my service project is just as inspiring for my students as it is for me. I always learn something new when I get to teach my class and I always have a smile and a better attitude because of it. My service may be a requirement but it feels like a gift every day I get to help others. I would choose to do my project regardless of its requirement because invoking creativity and inspiring kids who were just like me is possibly one of the greatest experiences.

Aubrey Anderson

This passage about “My Mission” really speaks to me mainly because when I told my mentor that I was into art and working with the homeless she found a perfect fit for me at The Rose, and after meeting a few of the women currently residing at The Rose, I knew this is where I was called to be for my CBSL. It is something I greatly enjoy doing because it takes two passions of mine the one of art and the other of helping my neighbors especially those in need. God created people to be there to comfort one another, and help in times of need and loneliness. If people weren’t meant to help other people what is the point of having so many individuals on this earth? God has a specific set plan for everyone on this planet. I believe everything happens for a reason. The first statement is what speaks to me the most in this whole passage, “God has created me to do Him some definite service” even after I graduate from high school I would like to do my service work in college whether it is a similar project or something different. I would like to continue to do my work and service with the homeless in the community I am in and continue to expand my service. “I shall do His work.” throughout my life, even after college I would like to become a doctor and continue to help those in need. It is where I feel called to be and what I feel most content doing is helping my neighbors, those who I know and those who I don’t. People come through all walks of life and helping those who you meet in need can be an impacting experience for both sides.

Sammy Mayer

I believe that my project connects to “My Mission” because I like to think that God wanted me to make changes in the youth community. My first day at my CBSL site (Kids Street Learning Center) I had no idea what I was bringing to the table for these kids and how I was going to make a change in their young lives. Later, I noticed that my mission at my CBSL was to show them how much I care about them, I did this by showing up to every class and showing them that I am here for them. The kids at first thought I was getting paid to be there for them and I told them I was here to volunteer and if there was money involved I would have declined the money but still volunteer. The first two weeks were a little shaky and I was very nervous about these kids but they started to trust me one week at a time and now I know what my mission is show them that their future is bright.

Maddie Craig

Throughout my experience with CBSL and my volunteering for the past 3 years, I have felt as if I am a link in a chain, specifically the chain of Ceres Community Project and the community of families with a member who has cancer. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and for me specifically, I believe that my mother’s diagnoses’ led me to my volunteering which has become my greatest passion. As a client I was receiving meals from Ceres, as a volunteer, I was making meals for families like mine, and now with my CBSL of outreach, I’m spreading the word and mission of Ceres around my community. I know that as I grow and leave home I will keep the lessons that Ceres has taught me. I will always be a link in that chain, and even if I’m no longer volunteering for them and doing outreach, Ceres will be with me forever, and I hope I can spread their mission to the people around me. The mission of taking care of the vulnerable members in our community, and supporting all people in their missions to make the world a better place. While my mother’s cancer was extremely difficult for my family to go through, it has made us better people and created a new passion in all of us, it gave us our mission.