By Sam Aitchison
The Church is Alive!
My connection with Loyola Academy, a small Catholic middle school for young men facing socioeconomic challenges, began humbly enough. Just a few blocks from my college campus in St. Louis, the school serves students from difficult circumstances, many from single-parent homes and many who are eligible for free lunch.
Three years ago, I started volunteering at Loyola Academy a few nights a week, initially expecting a routine experience. However, this commitment has affected me profoundly, shaping my own journey of self-discovery and igniting unexpected passions.
Witnessing the transformative power of a supportive school environment has been eye opening. Students receive not only three nutritious meals daily but also ample opportunities for recess, enrichment activities and dedicated tutoring support from volunteers. The results are remarkable.
Students who often enter the academy at the 30th percentile in standardized testing typically graduate at around the 70th percentile within a few short years. Academic growth is only part of the story. The school maintains a commitment to holistic development — nurturing personal, social and spiritual well-being — through employment of a full-time social worker, programs to foster friendship development, retreats, and prayer services. This comprehensive approach sets the students on a path to success; they go on to thrive at great area high schools and colleges. It is deeply inspiring.
Now in my third year as a volunteer at Loyola Academy, my responsibilities have evolved into onboarding and recruiting fellow volunteers. The school’s positive impact is undeniable; I witness it daily, and that benefits my recruitment efforts. However, the school’s existence raises a persistent question in my mind: Why do donor-funded, private schools like this need to exist in a major metropolitan area?
Loyola Academy, for all its success, represents only a fraction of the school-aged population in St. Louis. What about all the other students who cannot benefit from such a transformative education? This reality forces me to confront systemic injustices in our society. I grapple with the fact that many students do not have the opportunity to receive such a transformative education. It leads me to question whether the work of the school, however beneficial, addresses the broader issue.
A few months ago, during a Sunday evening at Mass, I found myself particularly troubled with these questions and doubting the genuine impact of the school. In a moment of prayer, a simple yet profound answer resonated within me: “Do your best and let God take care of the rest.” This grace, though not a miracle that resolved all my doubts, rejuvenated my spirit. I felt empowered to wake up the next day, give the best of my time and talents to my commitments and trust that the outcome was ultimately in God’s hands. I am grateful for this moment of grace.
This answer in prayer didn’t magically erase all my questions or disappointments but it did provide the energy and perspective I needed.
With geopolitical uncertainties, stock market volatility and tornado season sweeping across the Midwest, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by a lack of control and complete understanding. This Easter season, I’m praying for the grace to work as hard as I can to love God and my neighbor more fully, leaving the results to his care.
(Sam Aitchison is a junior at Saint Louis University in St. Louis. Contact him at samaitchison6 @gmail.com.)
