Describe the most important experience with adversity you have encountered. Tell us about how you responded, coped, or triumphed. The seriousness of the adversity is less important than the thoughtfulness with which you describe how you responded and what you think you learned. (Worcester Polytechnic Institute)
Recently, I encountered adversity. For the past two years, I have been working at the Highlands at Pittsford, a nursing home. The Highlands at Pittsford is a very safe place where no one would suspect anything bad could happen. However, on April 28, 2000, things did not go as planned.
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The workday progressed as normal, but there was a new worker that day. It was someone whom I had never seen before. She was a very quiet person, so I did not get to talk to her much. Ella, the new worker, finished first and was the first to leave. Suddenly, a man ran into the kitchen telling Ralph and me that someone had been shot. Ralph, the cook, and I initially thought the man was playing some joke on us, but from the fright in his eyes and the wrinkles on his face, I could tell he was feeling a lot of anxiety.
Ralph and I followed this man out, and I saw the scariest sight of my life. A woman was lying on the ground, listless with no emotion or movement. My knees were trembling, and I was feeling hysterical. Ralph ran inside the kitchen to call the cops. I could hear Ella’s mother yell, “Jesus, why did you take my baby away from me?” I saw her mother and her brother crying by Ella’s corpse. I put my arms around both of them, trying to be as comforting as possible. I told them that I understood what they were going through, that the world is a cruel place. I reassured them that the person who shot Ella would be brought to justice. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Stealthily, I went over to see all the places where Ella had been shot. The fresh blood was gushing out from five distinct places on her back.
Ralph joined the mourners and me. He informed me that the police and the ambulance were on their way. When they arrived, Ralph told me to go home and rest. He said I could have the next day off. Before I could leave, the security guard interrogated me. He asked me if I had seen the person who shot Ella. I told him that I had not gotten the chance to see the suspect.
That night, I was unable to get any sleep or relax. I was sweating profusely and all I could do was imagine all the possible scenarios. If I had left work two minutes earlier, the criminal would have shot Ella first and then me because I would have been a witness. The thought that I was so close to death haunted me. I decided to run on the treadmill for a half an hour to try to clear my mind.
The next day, my boss Mary gave me a phone call. She told me that she had scheduled me to see a counselor for as long as I would need it. It felt great talking to Mary; she really brightened my spirits. The tone of her voice and the calmness with which she spoke alleviated some of my stress. When I met the counselor, Jack, we talked about what had happened. I let all my feelings out; everything was bottled up and I broke out crying after saying it all. He comforted me and we would talk about anything that could get my mind off what had happened. Jack told me, “Mukund, what happened to you is something that happens to a few of us. If you keep lamenting on what has happened, you won’t be able to live with yourself. Stay active, the more activities you do, the less you will think about the tragedy that happened.”
I took Jack’s advice; being able to talk to him really opened me up. I am so happy that I am alive today and able to write this paper. My co-workers and employers have been such influential people in my life because they have gone through this traumatic situation and have helped me get over it. They have become a part of me, and I am so happy that Mary gave me the chance to become part of their team. As long as I have my friends and family, I believe anything is possible, and that everything happens for a reason; nothing happens purely by coincidence. This event has made me a stronger person, it has led me to think in a more positive light and has urged me to achieve my goals.
Interpretation Pro Life (abortion) In Christianity
Robert Carozza III – Mr. Ziaya – Theology 12 – 19 October 2018 – The Gospel of Life. Pope John Paul II’s encyclical, “The Gospel of Life” (Evangelium Vitae), was released on 25 March 1995 in Rome, Italy. The reason for this encyclical was because St. Pope John Paul II had recognized many unprecedented threats to human life, and recognized a growing culture of death. Another reason was to reiterate the view of the Catholic Church on their values of life and to warn people against violating the sanctity of life.
The encyclical is an urgent call to reach out to each and every person in the name of God. In the face of society’s devaluation of life, St. Pope John Paul II’s encyclical primarily focuses on the intrinsic value and dignity of every human life and their worthiness, even if unborn. The gospel of life is also an extension of Jesus Christ’s gospel message. St. Pope John Paul II stated that his reason for writing his encyclical stemmed from a meeting of bishops from around the globe that took place in 1991. The initial four parts of this encyclical discuss what the Catholic identifies as new threats and past threats to human life and dignity. Pope John Paul II first discussed the story of Cain and Abel, citing this story as an illustration of how a threat to human life, stemming from jealousy, has been present since ancient times.
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Some common threats to human life include situations where human life is weak and defenseless, such as at the very beginning after conception, the zygote stage, and at its very end. These threats include abortion, euthanasia, and immoral experimentation on human embryos. Additionally, he stated that birth control and emergency contraceptive pills (Plan B) pose threats to human life. This is because life begins at conception, and these methods prevent life from manifesting.
People who support these threats typically bring forth a number of excuses for these heinous acts. These excuses include the idea that rights are based on individual freedom, the claim that these acts are legal, and the argument that they are performed to advance medical science. He also makes note of the fact that medical research is even trying to make abortion more accessible and widespread.
St. Pope John Paul II also mentions the death penalty, which has caused a huge debate for years. He says that it is a form of murder, always unjust no matter the situation. Another topic he touches upon is euthanasia, referring to it as a “grave violation of the law of God.” Just like murder, it’s a form of deliberately killing, which is intolerable to do to human beings according to the natural law, the Word of God, and the traditional teaching of the Catholic Church.
St. Pope John Paul II then discusses the culture of death, stating that it threatens both man and civilization. This threat is driven by the idea of freedom, which he sees as disconnected from any reference to truth and objective good, asserting itself in an unorthodox way.
St. John Paul II emphasizes that life is worthwhile, only if it’s productive and enjoyable. He believes suffering is considered useless, and sacrificing for others unjustified. In passage sixty-two, Pope John Paul II discusses abortion. He starts by agreeing with Pope Paul VI’s condemnation of abortion, viewing it as a direct act of killing humans. The first thing he says when addressing the topic of abortion is, “the Church is aware of the many factors which have influenced your decision.” He says this so women who have had abortions or are thinking of having one know he’s not targeting them and ignoring their views.
He reassures women who have had an abortion that the Church knows the decision was painful and shattering. Pope John Paul II advises women to forgive themselves for what they did by saying, “Certainly what happened was terrible and still remains terribly wrong. But do not lose hope and give into discouragement.” He encourages the women to analyze what happened, face the situation honestly, and trust in repentance. Pope John Paul II further comforts these women by saying the Father of Mercies is ready to give them His forgiveness and His peace within the sacrament of reconciliation.
One surprising statement he makes is, “You will come to understand that nothing is definitely lost, and you will also be able to ask forgiveness from your child, who is now living in the Lord (Gospel of Life passage sixty-two).” St. John Paul II focused on these threats to human life in his encyclical.
These threats to human life are saddening to hear and observe. Some may argue that threats to human life grow every day due to circumstances such as terrorism, murders, and even bullying. St. Pope John Paul II addresses these issues to remind us this is not what God planned for our world. While the Lord is forgiving, those who pose threats to human life should not perform these heinous acts.
