Fordham Soup for the Soul

One of the things that I love most about Fordham is that there are so many opportunities to get involved! There's everything from intramural teams to acapella, Peer Ministry to the Gaelic Society. However, of all the opportunities that Fordham has to offer, by far my favorite is its service opportunities. One of the most important parts of the Jesuit tradition is that all people should be "men and women serving others." In other words, it is important to value oneself, but also to value the dignity of other human beings and to ensure that their needs are met. There are a variety of groups one can join that primarily serve people in the surrounding Bronx area. Two of the groups I participate in serve the children, and are known as Epiphany Mentoring and Change 4 Kids.

Epiphany Mentoring works in conjunction with one of the churches in the local area. Every Saturday, a small troop of volunteers makes a fifteen minute walk to mentor and entertain whatever gaggle of children happens to come. From 10:30-1:30, the children are our primary focus. In the church's basement, we do arts and crafts, play outside, and, most importantly, listen. For these children, life isn't always fun and games, and so we do our best to ensure that each week the children are given a safe and fun haven. There are smiles all around, and all mentors agree that despite the hectic nature of mentoring young children and keeping them in line, it is easily our favorite part of the week.

Meanwhile, Change 4 Kids works in conjunction with PS 73, located near Yankee Stadium. Every Wednesday, our group takes a Ram Van (provided for us) there to work on literary projects. During first semester, we teach them the fundamentals of journalistic writing, and have each child prepare a news piece throughout the course of many weeks. Then, during second semester, we work on creative writing projects, mostly focusing on poetry and short story writing. The goal is to promote the children's interest in literary projects and encourage them to participate in goal-oriented activities. There are quite a few characters enrolled in the project, and there is never a dull moment!

I encourage everyone, whether they be a present or future Ram, to get as involved as they can during their stay at Fordham. It's not only for the good of others, but for the good of your own spirit as you come to connect with different people and contribute to a greater good.