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Entrance Interviews...
Prior to leaving for Montana, the boys were asked a series of questions:
2) What do you hope you get out of it?
3) What are you most excited about?
4) What are you most nervous about?
5) What will make the week “successful” for you?
Hopefully these give some perspective on what each student is thinking as they go into the trip and provides a baseline for their week.
Click on "Read More" to see read their reflections...
Evan Williams: I am on this trip because I believe this immersion trip program will help grow my faith because I will be able to test what I believe in an environment apart from my parents. I also firmly believe in learning by listening to other people’s stories. Living and working with peers dedicated to serving young people seems like the perfect way for me to learn and grow as a Christian. Also, The Montana trip will allow me to step out of my familiar surroundings, learn about the native American culture and prepare to be open minded about the different backgrounds of those we will be tutoring. I learned from all the teaching opportunities I have had that I often end up learning a great deal from the people I teach and learning about myself. I am extremely excited to spend time with some good friends. I am also looking forward to visiting glacier national park because I have heard great things and the pictures of it look awesome.
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Although I have a lot of teaching experience, I am nervous for how the kids will be because I have heard they are extremely hard to work with. However, I have also heard how rewarding it is at the end when you are able to fully help them understand something, and if I am able to achieve that I will consider the whole trip a success. Another success would be if I am able to figure out my faith life and figure out what I truly believe instead of just following my parents’ faith.
Luke Telljohann: My goal while on this Montana immersion trip to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation is for me to step out of my comfort zone and try to live by my theme for the week “If not me, then who.” I want to challenge myself, face new experiences, and grow into a more confident version of myself. I know this trip will push me to come out of my shell, become a more compassionate and thoughtful individual, and develop leadership qualities that I can carry with me long after the week is over. For me it's about showing up, not just for others, but for myself, and finding myself.
Gavin Daley: I am hoping, as I go to Montana and the De La Salle Blackfeet School, to improve my own faith and identity. Going to Montana brings me into an environment where I am not familiar with, challenging me to serve new people. I hope to make a direct impact on the lives of the students in the classroom and represent the values of Calvert Hall. Since this trip is a once in a lifetime opportunity, I want to make the best of it and have fun while doing so. Overall, I want to come back home knowing that I’ve discovered an entirely new part of me that I can share with the rest of Calvert Hall.
Marco Carver: I’m on this trip to became closer to God and to learn to adapt to different situations then my own. I also want to learn more about poverty and how it looks different than in the area I’m in now. What I hope to get out of this trip is a better understanding of the world and to be more open minded and grateful for the position I’m in. I’m most excited about tutoring and helping the kids with their work and activities. I think I’m just nervous about being so far away from home and not being with my family. If I just stay focused and be proactive then I’ll be successful throughout this week.
Joey Faherty: I want to go on this trip to Montana as I want to grow in faith and as a person. I hope to get out of this a moving experience as many people have described to me that they have gotten on this trip in the past. I am excited about being able to get away from the chaos of life going on here and sit back and taking time to reflect on what really matters to me in life. I worry a bit about going away for a week and the differences in society out there. I want to make memories, have a good experience, learn more, and help the students at the school.
Braeden Conly: I originally gained interest of the Montana Immersion Trip back in Mr. Parisi’s Freshman year religion class. He had us spend a class period looking at the reflections of the students who on the trip that year and write short personal reflections about their experiences and transformation throughout the week. I noticed how much the trip not only brought them together as Calvert Hall students and brothers but also brought them closer to God and the Blackfoot community in need, and I wanted to experience that as well. I hope I come out of this trip with an open mind and more of a willingness to serve those who need it, especially in the Baltimore area. With dedicated and like-minded peers and ministers and God guiding my way, I know that we can make an impact on these kids who may not know all of God’s blessings in their life. While this impact won’t be life-changing, my goal by the end of the week is to develop a friendly relationship with the kids I meet and make them know that they are cared for. As Mr. Parisi mentioned to us during our preparation, we all have our own poverty ourselves, even if it isn’t physical like those who we are serving. I want to reveal that personal poverty this week to myself, and while serving the students at the LaSallian school, serving and understanding my own poverty at the same time.
Mateo Soto: I'm on this trip because I think it'll be a really fun experience with friends, and I'd like to grow closer to everyone. I hope that this will offer an opportunity to take ownership over my faith life, and help me reflect on my own life. I'm pretty excited to see the mountains scenery that Mr. Parisi keep talking about and to have fun with friends. I can't really say I'm nervous about anything, I'm just hoping everyone can pull their weight at the house when doing chores. For this week to be successful, I want to grow, whether that's in my faith, in my friendships, or as a person.
Henry Lynch: I am going on the Montanan Immersion Trip because I believe that I will contribute through my leadership skills and ability to bring the group together. This immersion trip will hopefully help me to better understand my strengths as well as my weaknesses, and how I can build upon them. I would also like to get the ability to understand lifestyles that are not like the ones around Maryland and understand that I should truly be thankful for what I have. I am most excited to build a strong brotherhood bound with the group, and I hope that this trip will be something to look back on and feel accomplished for going through the experience. I am mostly nervous about having to deal with the students at first and how I will handle being in this completely new environment. To have a successful week, I want to show leadership and maturity growth to prove to myself that I am ready for what is to come.
Ben Rozanski: As my High School journey comes to a close, I think about the friends I have made, the work I have done and am about to embark upon, and those I have served. Through this trip, I look to strengthen those bonds and form new ones. To say I have kept myself busy these past four years would be an understatement. Sleep has been lost as well as sanity, but I look forward to the years to come. And finally, those I have served will always live with me. Though they may not remember me or my name, they will always have a place in my heart. Serving the Blackfeet people seems to be the largest "challenge" yet, which also means they will mean the most to me when it is all said and done.
Luke Telljohann: My goal while on this Montana immersion trip to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation is for me to step out of my comfort zone and try to live by my theme for the week “If not me, then who.” I want to challenge myself, face new experiences, and grow into a more confident version of myself. I know this trip will push me to come out of my shell, become a more compassionate and thoughtful individual, and develop leadership qualities that I can carry with me long after the week is over. For me it's about showing up, not just for others, but for myself, and finding myself.
Gavin Daley: I am hoping, as I go to Montana and the De La Salle Blackfeet School, to improve my own faith and identity. Going to Montana brings me into an environment where I am not familiar with, challenging me to serve new people. I hope to make a direct impact on the lives of the students in the classroom and represent the values of Calvert Hall. Since this trip is a once in a lifetime opportunity, I want to make the best of it and have fun while doing so. Overall, I want to come back home knowing that I’ve discovered an entirely new part of me that I can share with the rest of Calvert Hall.
Marco Carver: I’m on this trip to became closer to God and to learn to adapt to different situations then my own. I also want to learn more about poverty and how it looks different than in the area I’m in now. What I hope to get out of this trip is a better understanding of the world and to be more open minded and grateful for the position I’m in. I’m most excited about tutoring and helping the kids with their work and activities. I think I’m just nervous about being so far away from home and not being with my family. If I just stay focused and be proactive then I’ll be successful throughout this week.
Joey Faherty: I want to go on this trip to Montana as I want to grow in faith and as a person. I hope to get out of this a moving experience as many people have described to me that they have gotten on this trip in the past. I am excited about being able to get away from the chaos of life going on here and sit back and taking time to reflect on what really matters to me in life. I worry a bit about going away for a week and the differences in society out there. I want to make memories, have a good experience, learn more, and help the students at the school.
Braeden Conly: I originally gained interest of the Montana Immersion Trip back in Mr. Parisi’s Freshman year religion class. He had us spend a class period looking at the reflections of the students who on the trip that year and write short personal reflections about their experiences and transformation throughout the week. I noticed how much the trip not only brought them together as Calvert Hall students and brothers but also brought them closer to God and the Blackfoot community in need, and I wanted to experience that as well. I hope I come out of this trip with an open mind and more of a willingness to serve those who need it, especially in the Baltimore area. With dedicated and like-minded peers and ministers and God guiding my way, I know that we can make an impact on these kids who may not know all of God’s blessings in their life. While this impact won’t be life-changing, my goal by the end of the week is to develop a friendly relationship with the kids I meet and make them know that they are cared for. As Mr. Parisi mentioned to us during our preparation, we all have our own poverty ourselves, even if it isn’t physical like those who we are serving. I want to reveal that personal poverty this week to myself, and while serving the students at the LaSallian school, serving and understanding my own poverty at the same time.
Mateo Soto: I'm on this trip because I think it'll be a really fun experience with friends, and I'd like to grow closer to everyone. I hope that this will offer an opportunity to take ownership over my faith life, and help me reflect on my own life. I'm pretty excited to see the mountains scenery that Mr. Parisi keep talking about and to have fun with friends. I can't really say I'm nervous about anything, I'm just hoping everyone can pull their weight at the house when doing chores. For this week to be successful, I want to grow, whether that's in my faith, in my friendships, or as a person.
Henry Lynch: I am going on the Montanan Immersion Trip because I believe that I will contribute through my leadership skills and ability to bring the group together. This immersion trip will hopefully help me to better understand my strengths as well as my weaknesses, and how I can build upon them. I would also like to get the ability to understand lifestyles that are not like the ones around Maryland and understand that I should truly be thankful for what I have. I am most excited to build a strong brotherhood bound with the group, and I hope that this trip will be something to look back on and feel accomplished for going through the experience. I am mostly nervous about having to deal with the students at first and how I will handle being in this completely new environment. To have a successful week, I want to show leadership and maturity growth to prove to myself that I am ready for what is to come.
Ben Rozanski: As my High School journey comes to a close, I think about the friends I have made, the work I have done and am about to embark upon, and those I have served. Through this trip, I look to strengthen those bonds and form new ones. To say I have kept myself busy these past four years would be an understatement. Sleep has been lost as well as sanity, but I look forward to the years to come. And finally, those I have served will always live with me. Though they may not remember me or my name, they will always have a place in my heart. Serving the Blackfeet people seems to be the largest "challenge" yet, which also means they will mean the most to me when it is all said and done.
