Our #MyMagisMessage for the week comes from Kiera Reilly, junior Psychology and Peace, Justice, and Human Rights double major from Avon!
At which service sites / community partners have you served or been a student liaison?
I served this past semester as a student liaison for Saturday Tutoring through the Church of the Covenant where I tutored middle and high school students. I has also served at L'Arche, group homes for adults with intellectual disabilities, and YouthAbility play practice, an extra curricular activity for young adults with developmental disabilities.
If you had to state your life mission off the top of your head, in one sentence, what would it be?
My life mission is to spread kindness and love wherever I go so that others feel more loved, and also to hold gratitude for myself, my life, and everyone I meet.
At this point in my life as a junior in college, I find that I have to start making big decisions and be intentional with my time and relationships. I need to think about what I want to do after graduation and what I want my career path to be. I have to be intentional with how I spend my time, which means saying some hard "no's" in order to prioritize what is important to me. I have to be intentional with the relationships I form which means surrounding myself with people who share similar values as me so that we can push each other to be the best versions of ourselves.
In this time in my life, as well as in the current time in our world, I find living the magis more important than ever. It is important to BE more rather than DO more. This uncertain time has shown me how important it is to love your friends and family and be there for people however you can. I am intentionally trying to help those in my life and those in the community however I best can. I am showing up for people.
The Jesuit mission and dedication to service is why I chose to come to John Carroll. Being involved with service and social justice has shaped my views and intentions for my life. I knew I ultimately wanted to help people with my career, but working with individuals with disabilities in L'Arche and YouthAbility has solidified my desire to work with this population in my psychology career. I want to help youth in schools as a school psychologist to have equal opportunity and the best education experience that they can get. Forming relationships with the people I have served with during my time at Carroll has motivated me to see each individual I encounter in my life as a human first and to respect their individual dignity.