I came across this quote the other day, and it really resonated with me:
“In my travels all over the world, I have come to realize that what distinguishes one child from another is not ability, but access. Access to education, access to opportunity, access to love.”
The quote is attributed to the famous female hip-hop artist Lauryn Hill. In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine named her one of “The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.” She has led a tumultuous life and seen a lot of the world. Enough, at least, to gain some profound insight into the human condition, especially when it comes to young people. Regardless of what you think of rappers or Ms. Hill, her words ring true.
Gaining “access” is vital for young people to be able to develop their God-given gifts. That is what Cristo Rey St. Martin is all about. Our model of education opens doors that have been locked for most students from low-income backgrounds. Getting access to a quality education is denied to too many young people. Research shows that students who lack basic math and reading skills are more likely to drop out of high school, are less likely to graduate from college, are incarcerated at higher rates, are more likely to be unemployed, are more likely to enroll in public assistance programs and will make significantly less money than their peers who received quality educations.
Our Principal recently pulled data from the Illinois Report Card showing that the graduation rates for Waukegan and North Chicago public high schools are less than 74%, and fewer than 20% of those graduates enroll in college, let alone ever earn a degree. In contrast, Cristo Rey’s high school graduation rate is 100% and 92% of our graduates enroll in bachelor’s programs, with 70% earning a degree within 6 years.
At CRSM, we are accelerating access through our Corporate Work Study Program. Giving young people a glimpse of what careers might be possible for them if they stay in school and go on to college puts them in the driver’s seat – they can see futures for themselves and a path forward for getting there.
We really underestimate what high school students can contribute to an adult environment because, as a society, we give them so few opportunities to enter those environments and prove themselves. Without our work-study program, our graduation rates and college completion rates would be much lower.
Part of my job is always looking for more work opportunities for our students. Recently, a financial services company told me, “We just don’t do internships. We rely on recruiting on college campuses.” My response was, “Well, then you’ll never have students like ours working at your company because, without the opportunity to work in professional environments while in high school, they will never get to the college campuses you’re recruiting from. You must go upstream and invest in high schoolers if you ever want to hire diverse talent like ours!” Getting access too late is a dream deferred. Too many doors get permanently shut, and options become more limited.
At CRSM, our students walk out our doors after graduation with myriad options for their future. For the last 6 years in a row, every senior has been accepted to a bachelor’s program. Even if they are one of the few who do not enroll, they have the confidence of knowing they have what it takes to get in.
Students receive an additional and incredibly powerful type of access from CRSM: the opportunity to explore what they believe and to experience ways of living out their beliefs in the world. Community service can be a profoundly transformational experience. Sharing your talents to improve the lives of others is rewarding, but it also strengthens your identity as a member of the community, someone who not only belongs but who can make a real difference.
An alum currently in medical school at the University of Wisconsin – Madison recently wrote,
“I’m deeply grateful for my experience at Cristo Rey St. Martin and want to thank the entire community for helping me become who I am today. CRSM laid the foundation for the values I carry with me, instilling in me a strong sense of purpose, faith, and service principles that continue to guide me as I navigate medical school and advocate for underserved communities. Inspired by our patron saint, St. Martin, I strive to use my education and privilege to be a voice for those who are often unheard, especially in healthcare spaces where representation and advocacy are urgently needed. “
Clearly, when a young person obtains access to education, access to opportunity, and access to love, they will find both success and the desire to create similar access for others. There is a sign outside our Campus Ministry office that sums up this idea. It is another quote, but not attributed to anyone (for all I know, our Campus Minister wrote it himself). It is yet another profound insight and another synopsis of what CRSM is all about:
“To live your faith, put love into action, give something back, learn about yourself, explore career possibilities, pursue your passions, build your resume, connect with others, meet new people, learn about your community, have fun with friends, grow your self-confidence, gain leadership skills, show that young people care, feel other people’s needs and respond to them, be generous, work for a better world, make others proud, make a di\erence. It feels good to do good … because that’s the way God created us.”
¡Viva, Cristo Rey!