The Sophomore Experience

The Sophomore Experience - Developing Empathy and Understanding Need

Overview: The Sophomore service experience is intended to further a student’s understanding of Christian charity and justice by providing him with experiences and opportunities to develop empathy through walking with and in the shoes of the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized. By doing so, students will gain a better understanding of the needs of suffering, empowering them to serve in more impactful and meaningful ways.

Objective: Building on the Freshman Service Experience, where students experienced rich encounters with underserved communities, the objective of the Sophomore Service Experience is to provide students with opportunities for leadership and social justice immersion. These experiences provide moments that spark empathy in their minds and hearts, guiding students in understanding the needs of the populations they serve. Indeed, it is by walking with and in the shoes of the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized, that students will gain a better understanding of the needs of the suffering.

The Sophomore Service Experience provides Jesuit students the opportunity to:

Deepen relationships with members of underserved communities;
Demonstrate leadership characterized first by a priority for the poor and vulnerable;
Grow in empathy and understanding for all marginalized people;
Participate in relationship based service within communities of great need;
Partner with local organizations fighting poverty and injustice;
Examine the root causes of social injustice;
Analyze the effects of social injustices on individuals and groups;
Begin to reflect on the Christian calling to live in solidarity with all who experience injustice;

To complete the Sophomore Service Experience, students must participate in:

direct relationship-based service to the poor and marginalized
integrated guidance and spiritual formation

Sophomore Direct Service Tracks:

Sophomores are able to choose from one of four tracks to complete their sophomore year service and justice formation requirement.

1. Service Leadership Track (Completed during the fall and spring semesters)

Students wishing to complete their formation requirement on the Service Leadership Track may apply to one of four service leadership organizations, each with a different service learning focus. Sophomores who maintain membership in a service leadership organization are eligible to apply to attend the annual Ignatian Teach-In (Social Justice Conference) in Washington D.C. (November)

a. Ignatian Service Corps

Membership: 15 sophomores
Service & Formation Focus: Christian Spirituality through Service
Description: A 3 year commitment, the Ignatian Service Corps is Jesuit’s most visible service leadership organization. Membership in the Ignatian Service Corps is limited to 15 sophomores, 15 juniors, and 15 seniors. Members of the ISC are characterized by an outstanding commitment to service and have a desire to understand more fully what it means to demonstrate a faith that results in justice for the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized. As one the Office of Community Service and Social Justice's most important partners, the Ignatian Service Corps provides critical leadership for many of Jesuit's on-going service initiatives throughout the school year. Additionally, members gather for monthly formation lunch meetings to fellowship, develop brotherhood, and to engage in discussion intended to deepen an understanding of the intersection between faith, spirituality, and a life-long commitment to social justice.
Requirements: Students in the ISC will be placed in a dedicated homeroom and will be required to attend monthly formation meetings (sophomores will read Follow Me to Freedom by Christian Activist, Shane Claiborne) and complete a minimum of 6 service leadership projects each semester. Students are also expected to support the Office of Service & Justice as needed.

b. 24/7

Membership: 25 students
Service & Formation Focus: Urban Poverty & Housing Insecurity
Description: A Sophomore service organization devoted to developing servant leaders. Members serve in a variety of agencies across Dallas exploring issues of urban poverty and housing insecurity in order to understand the unique needs of the individuals we serve while deepening a sense of empathy for the marginalized and vulnerable. 24/7 students are also expected to develop their skills as leaders by providing support for their fellow classmates, attending workshops and leadership conferences, and serving as group leaders at the annual spring Sophomore Retreat.
Requirement: Monthly formation meetings (students will be watching and discussing case studies from the KERA series, “Homeless in Highschool”), 4 rotations at the Escuelita after school program (2 in the fall and 2 in the spring), 3 nights at the Incarnation House for “family dinner nights.”

c. Brothers for Others

Membership: 20 students
Service & Formation Focus: Working with Individuals with Special Needs
Description: A service leadership club dedicated to learning about and serving individuals with special needs, both children and adults. Members are actively involved in the Rays of Light program, the annual Notre Dame Dance, and Special Games in addition to supporting several partner programs throughout the school year.
Requirements: Monthly formation meetings (students will be examining case studies from the documentary “Far From the Tree”), 2 nights at Rays of Lights - Night Lights, Notre Dame Fall Carnival, Notre Dame Christmas Dance, Jesuit Special Games Event Staff, and attendance at Rays of Light Prom or Notre Dame Sport Banquet

d. United to Lead

Membership: 12 students
Service & Formation Focus: Educational Inequities
Description: United to Lead is a local student initiative that is designed to equip high school sophomores with the tools that they need to become advocates for educational equity. United to Lead Fellows will take part in an eight-month fellowship to create relationships that cross traditional boundaries, understand the levers of educational equity, and become skilled advocates for our community schools. Students will actively participate in design thinking challenges and explore their power to impact their communities. Students involved in the United to Lead program will also serve in local public elementary schools providing mentoring and one-on-one tutoring.
Requirements: Monthly on campus formation meetings (Members will be reading Savage Inequalities by Jonothan Kozol), 6 off campus cohort meetings with students from Hockaday and Thomas Jefferson Highschool, 5 rotations at one Jesuit’s sponsored Saturday School programs in a local underserved public elementary school during the spring semester.

2 Social Justice Immersion Track (Summer and School Year Opportunities) The Social Justice Immersion Track provides students focused opportunities both domestically and internationally to grow in their understanding for individuals living on the margins of society. By walking in the shoes of others, students are able to deepen their sense of empathy for the poor and marginalized, the foundation for manifesting a faith that results in justice.

NOTE: All students are eligible to apply for participation in one or more of Jesuit’s Social Justice Immersion experiences regardless of their chosen service track.

Urban Plunge (June)
International Immersion (Guatemala, Mexico)
Domestic Immersion (Waco Poverty Immersion)
Summer Intensive (Each summer intensive requires a minimum full week commitment)
1. I Can Swim
2. I Can Bike
3. HEROES Academy
4. Sisters of Charity Day Camp

3. 4 & 4 Independant Service Track (Opportunities beginning each June) The most flexible service track for sophomores, the 4 & 4 requires students to complete 8 service events throughout the year (recommendation is 4 Jesuit sponsored service events during the summer or fall semester and 4 Jesuit sponsored service events in the spring). Event offerings include opportunities from a broad spectrum of service sectors represented in the Jesuit service experience:

Austin Street Center Game Night (Sundays during school holidays)
Escuelita After School Program (Daily during fall and spring semesters)
Johnson’s Outpost Summer Sports Program (Daily throughout the summer)
Lee McShan Elementary Saturday School (Saturdays, beginning spring semester)
Manna for Others Lewisville (Saturdays during school holidays)
Obadiah Knight Saturday School* (Saturdays during fall and spring semesters)
Rays of Light - Night Lights (Friday nights during fall and spring semesters)
Saint Nicholas House (Twice monthly, fall and spring semesters)
Sierra Vista Activity Days (Fridays throughout the summer)
The Traditions (Sundays during the fall and spring semesters)

* Bilingual service opportunity

Students completing service on the 4 X 4 Track will attend empathy workshop formation meetings twice a semester.

4. Approved Service Project/Experience In some cases students may be engaged (through their family or parish community) in service that reflects the goals and outcomes for the sophomore year experience. In such instances, students may present a proposal to the Office of Service & Justice, requesting that their involvement in those activities serve as fulfillment of their sophomore year direct service requirement. In order for proposals to be considered for approval, the service must reflect Jesuit’s service priorities (direct service with the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized) and provide a sustained opportunity to develop relationships which lead to a deeper sense of empathy for those who experience systemic injustice.

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