TIPS FOR SHARING YOUR STORY

Sometimes it is difficult to share the experiences we have had with friends and family who may have never done something similar. It is important to share what you witnessed with those closest to you. Here are some ideas on how to begin…

• Be genuine. Be true to your ideals and your experience.
• Reflect on where your listener is coming from. Ask yourself: “Has this person ever had an experience like I have before? What is my relationship with this person?”
• Ask yourself: Are my parents/friends/coworkers ready to hear what I have to say? Don’t judge!
• Be prepared that some people will need you to tell them the essence of your story in just a few minutes.
• Focus on people you met, not statistics
• Do not take negative reactions or inattentiveness as a judgement of your experience. You know the true worth of what you have lived!
• Understand that no one an validate or legitimate your experience of your – that is your responsibility.
• Don’t forget what you have seen and where you have come from. Remember the importance of sharing the stories that are now a part of who you are.

– adapted from St. Vincent Pallotti Center

• Appreciation: Keep a journal. Continuing to record your thoughts, ideas and feelings as you continue to process your experience.
• Dialogue: Share photographs. As you look at the photos, what people, events, moments stand out for you? Why?
• Solidarity: Live values learned. Live in a way that honors the people you met during your immersion experience and what you learned.
   

HOW CAN I CONTINUE TO LIVE AS A VINCENTIAN IN ACTION?

SIMPLICITY

“Simplicity involves centering thinking and action upon what is most essential and central to our humanity…The goal is to build our lives around different values.” – Mark Burch

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Compost- Join ECO
• Clean out your closet- donate anything that you don't use.
• If you have to buy something, consider buying second-hand.
• Fix or sew what you can instead of buying something new.
• Support sustainable agriculture, buy organic (try Wild Oats, Whole Foods) and or try http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/M1972.
• Walk, ride a bike, carpool, use public transportation http://www.transitchicago.com/
• Bring your own shopping bags.
• Take time to listen to people's stories.
• Go for a week without tv, iPods, e-mail, or the other materials you chose to give up on your service immersion.
• Start a Voluntary Simplicity Group on campus. Visit http://www.nwei.org/ to learn more!
   

SPIRITUALITY

“The spiritual life does not remove us from the world, but leads us deeper into it.” Henri J. Nouwan

• Go to VIA Big 8 Reflections
• Attend DePaul’s weekly Sunday night mass.
• Go to Taize on Tuesday evening at 9:30pm.
• Join one of DePaul’s many faith groups
• Keep a Journal or Blog
• Seek out a spiritual advisor/mentor through University Ministry
• Go on a retreat with CCM
• Take a Catholic Studies or Religious Studies course
• Check in with your roommates about their lives.
• Do a daily yoga, meditation or pray

COMMUNITY

“Love gains for us the entrance into the hearts of others.” St. Vincent DePaul

• Keep in contact with your group, write letters to your host site.
• Join a small group of other immersion participants to hear their stories.
• Join a DCSA service group to do weekly service.
• Go to VIA Big 8 gatherings
• Live in the Vincent and Louise House - contact Pauline Villapando at pvillapa@depaul.edu.
  

JUSTICE

"The opposite of poverty isn't wealth, it's justice."

• Use your voice- tell your senators and representatives about your experience and your concerns.
• Join advocacy organizations that work for social justice.
• Get involved in local community organizing.
• Take a Peace Studies class.
• Read international news sources for other perspectives.

Want to become more involved with the service immersion program?
Go on another immersion over winter break or next spring break
Apply to be a student leader for an immersions
Apply to be the service immersion student intern!