3/1/22
Integration Three

	From birth, Kevin was destined to go to Notre Dame. Every fall since he was 5, he would tag along with his dad to his alma mater to see a football game and explore the school that would one day be his home. Before arriving at Notre Dame though, Kevin grew up in the Catholic school system. At Loyola Academy, the Jesuit value of service was instilled in him. Apart from working as a paid youth sports coach, he volunteered at local after school centers. In both the sports program and the after-school centers, it was always fulfilling to see the kids he helped enjoy the same type of things he had enjoyed as a kid, whether that be playing baseball or playing board games with friends. At Loyola, he learned about Fr. Greg Boyle S.J., a Jesuit priest who created a program that gave jobs to ex-convicts. Growing up in a family that was deeply connected with the Jesuit order, he had met many people, both priests and laypeople, who embodied the word service. However, Fr. Boyle always stood out to him, maybe because of his ability to connect to and serve people who were much different than him and had been cast aside from society. As Fr. Boyle said “Close both eyes; see with the other one. Then, we are no longer saddled by the burden of our persistent judgement, our ceaseless withholding, our constant exclusion. Our sphere has widened, and we find ourselves, quite unexpectedly, in a new, expansive location, in a place of endless acceptance and infinite love” (“Chapter 8: Jurisdiction” by Fr. Greg Boyle-Moreau FYE Week 7.) Throughout high school, Kevin’s favorite pastime was playing basketball. While he never played for Loyola, you could find him spending his summer days outdoors (And winter days indoors) bonding with his friends over a game of pickup at the local park.

	When deciding on where to go to college, he was initially not set on Notre Dame. He thought that maybe he should try something different and get out of the Midwest and the school he grew up with. However, that did not come to fruition and of course, he loved Notre Dame the second he arrived. Just like his dad, he found a home in Dillon Hall and formed lifelong friendships with his new hallmates. Again, he found in a common interest with his friends in playing basketball. Kevin’s skill stood out from his peers on the court. He dominated section basketball and was a valuable piece of his interhall. However, he did not settle to just competing at the intramural level. He set a goal that by senior he would try and walk on to the varsity basketball team. He strived to keep getting better, always reminding himself that “[Dissatisfaction is] what constantly moves us forward, makes us grow, expands our horizons, and deepens our perceptions. It’s a very healthy, a very important, and a very valuable thing! (“Three Key Questions” by Fr. Michael Himes-Moreau FYE Week 3). He applied this quote to the classroom too. In high school, he was at the top of his class, but never really felt challenged his schoolwork. College was a whole different story. He was somewhere in the middle of the class and his schoolwork was very difficult. While he didn’t struggle initially, he did find himself discouraged that he was not distinguished from his peers. However, he dedicated himself to his schoolwork, avoiding outside distractions during the weekdays and during his first semester of senior year, earned a 4.0 GPA and a spot on the basketball team. When talking about Fr. Ted Hesburgh, Fr. Austin Collins said “When we think about Fr. Ted, we cannot really talk about him and the decisions he made without talking about his faith (“Hesburgh” by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley-Moreau FYE Week 2). This quote can also be applied to Kevin’s life. At Notre Dame, Kevin was a regular to Dillon Hall Sunday mass and Thursday “milkshake mass” where he was a lector and eucharistic minister. He also cherished his peaceful Sunday night walks to the Grotto where he would reflect on the week behind and anticipate the week ahead.

	Continuing to get better and better, Kevin was signed by his hometown Chicago Bulls as an undrafted free agent. While his stint with the Bulls was not long, he earned enough money to open an after-school program in downtown Chicago. Through this program, he provided a safe place for children who may not have somewhere to go until later at night. Here, the children were occupied with homework help, board games, sports, and anything to brighten their day and provide a “home away from home.” In college, Kevin had been very busy with schoolwork, basketball, and extra curriculars that he didn’t have much time for service. He cherished his college experience but missed being able to give back to the community. He was grateful for having an active childhood that was filled with memories of him playing with his friends. Being able to provide an opportunity for these children and helping to create similar memories for them was fulfilling. Kevin knew that “If a person only focuses on one or two parts of his/her self-concept for a career, that person will eventually hit a wall (“Navigating Your Career Journey” by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development.) Kevin loved playing basketball and was willing to dedicate his life to it but being able to use his money that he earned through playing for service allowed him to be fully happy in his post college life. After retiring from playing, he returned to Notre Dame and joined their basketball coaching staff. Again, passing on his knowledge of the game and recreating to the memories not just playing at Notre Dame, but being a student there meant the world to him. Overall Kevin lived a life well lived because of the sense of accomplishment he found playing basketball and in the classroom, the value of service he held close to him, and the lifelong family he at the University of Notre Dame





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