University Application

University Application

Fr. Arrupe meant that the greatest goal of philosophy in education is to impart skills and knowledge to learners so that as they join the society, they should aware and have a conviction that love of God and self is a cruel joke especially if it not based on justice for persons that need it the most. His intention was to clarify that indeed, there are many people that love God. However, the majority of such individuals do not use their faith to offer assistance to the persons that need and deserve their aid. He also implies that there are many people that are fond of themselves such that their personal love shields them from realizing that many people require their help. Therefore, they are unwilling to assist others in need. It is not abominable for people to love themselves or their creator, but they should be retaining a fuzzy-warm feeling of being considerate to the marginalized humans that need help. Opting for otherwise is not only sad but also very cruel and inhuman.

In the modern times, people are competing for employment and to rise up the social ladder. Capitalism and chasing for personal dreams make it a tenuous task to for people to be considerate and compassionate for fellow humans if there is no material or social incentives. The majority of American citizens only offer assistance or agree to a particular arrangement if the other party expresses willingness to give rewards in return, even if a distinct selfless action may act as a turning point in the person's life for the better.  Father Aruppe’s statement means that people’s actions should not be clouded by ulterior selfish motives. Instead, they should understand that their presence in the lives of the needy neighbors should prevail in fair-mindedness and companionship.

Father Aruppe's statement encourages young learners to discover the importance or their competency and education in helping the poor people in their surroundings. The performance of selfless actions is a trait acquired when one discovers their role as brother's keeper despite the modern turmoil and societal stereotypes (Martin, 115). Once the person is aware of the importance of life and the need to lift others both spiritually and materially, he/she gains an understanding of the true meaning of social justice and treatment of acquaintances with equality and devotion.

Jane, my neighbor, and close friend, has volunteered for many years at a local orphanage center. She is a caretaker of the institution and is tasked with overseeing all the activities conducted. Last summer, she invited me to be part of her team of young volunteers to assist the orphaned children. The opportunity presented me with a unique chance of interacting with Jane and to understand her drive and devotion of her services at the orphanage. Jane is a migrant from Bosnia and has dedicated her life to serving humanity, especially young, motherless children from war-torn regions. 

Her experience during the war in Bosnia changed her views towards humanity, sufferings and the need for peace in conflict-ravaged areas. As I spent time with her, she narrated to me how human greed has resulted in devastation and lack of regard to innocent children. As communities clash in regions such as Iraq and Libya, children are often caught in the crossfire that can result in permanent injuries, psychological torture, or even death. Those that survive need direction and care to overcome such challenges and to lead a normal life as productive members of the society. Jane is a person that spends her time with the children, teaches them morals, and encourages them not to follow self-destructive paths taken by the members of their communities.

Jane reiterates that her rewards are satisfaction and joy she derives from transforming the lives of young children in need of motherly love and care. She narrated how her adult life has revolved around movement from one conflict region to the other trying to give counseling sessions to those traumatized by war and conflicts. Her mission has been largely successful, given that more than 40 survivors of conflicts in areas like Lebanon, Kuwait, Indonesia, and Macedonia have overcome their past and are now members of NGOs that provide assistance to the needy in South Eastern Asia, Africa, and South America. Other activities that Jane engages in include lobbying for funding from the government, donors, and well-wishers to expand her services to remote regions of the world where people are devastated by poverty, hunger, and poor sanitation. Most of her efforts have been recognized by many lobby groups and humanitarian organizations. In fact, she has received numerous awards for her selfless causes.

Jane’s long term plans are to influence the mindset of people to be focused on assisting the needy in the society, and to foster change at a local level where the gap between the needy and the poor ought to be minimized. She also seeks the attention of political leaders and policy makers to redirect funding to humanitarian aid in regions such as Syria, Libya, Yemen, and South Sudan.

Work Cited

Martin, James. My Life with the Saints. Chicago: Loyola Press, 2010: 100-120. Print.