Since I entered SLUH, I have increasingly lived a deliberate life. I cared about getting good grades in grade school, and I always pushed myself to do my best, but for what? The fuzzy-around-the-edges concept of eventually going to a good high school, then college somewhere in the far future. In eighth grade, as everyone began to choose their high schools, and in so doing, divide the class into distinct factions, I just wanted to stay with my friends. I wanted to go to DeSmet because that�s where they were going. In effect, I was letting someone else control my rudder out of the fear that I couldn�t do it myself. I had no real other reason to go there, so my direction had no self-chosen deliberate path.
I ended up at SLUH because of my parents, and even though it was the best choice, it still wasn�t mine � I wasn�t controlling the rudder. But at SLUH, a place where I knew no one very well, I was forced to decide who I would be, in which direction I wished to sail.
I chose to continue to work really hard in my classes but to also focus on human rights. Starting with the simple wish to help some people, the course I found slowly took me in a new direction. It opened my eyes to numerous injustices in the world as well as new ways to look at old dilemmas. It also brought me to other people who were following similar courses.
At the present time, I�m still following this course. Having been on it for awhile, I have a much clearer idea of where it may take me someday, and I have had time to see how I can use my own skills to aid in my progression along the course. I am wholly dedicated to discovering the situations where people are oppressed into a mute obscurity and bringing them to the attention of humans around the world by using my own voice. By having this destination in mind, I can aim in the direction of whatever my real destination turns out to be.
Of course, I have no idea what that is, but by deliberately setting out towards it, I can hone the skills I need, such as writing and understanding others, and develop the thoughts surrounding it, perhaps understanding the background to the situation in general, so that when I reach it, I will be ready for it.