MY PERSPECTIVE
JESUIT PERSPECTIVES • WINTER 2020-21 43
I
with sincere disappointment that I
write to inform you of the need to
cancel this summer’s Jasper Mission Trip.
…
but the email made it real. The 2020
Jesuit mission trip to Georgia wasn’t
happening.
The two previous summers, I’d
traveled to Jasper, Ga. with a group
of manual labor and brotherhood. It
was my annual chance to meet new
people and to experience the beauty
of this small, verdant town. Most
importantly, the trip was a way of
caring for those in tremendous need.
Whether it was mowing lawns,
painting fences, or listening to
the locals’ stories, the Jasper trip
allowed me to make a difference in
people’s lives. Every moment spent
heart with joy. However, because of
COVID-19, it was clear that the 2020
mission trip would not be possible. I
immediately asked myself, “So, what
do I do now?” It seemed there were
no opportunities to serve; the world
was shut down.
Seeking service opportunities, I
remembered the tutoring program
at Jesuit, in which students use
their academic abilities to support
their peers. This kind of academic
camaraderie has been an integral
part of my Jesuit experience, and I
realized that I could carry it beyond
the halls of Jesuit. I could tutor over
the summer. It didn’t sound quite
as exciting as an immersive mission
trip to Georgia, but I could still
impact those in need. I emailed my
middle school, asking if they had any
students in need of a tutor.
Sure enough, there would be an
in-person summer school program
for the students who struggled
with virtual learning. They needed
a tutor who could connect the dots,
preparing the kids for the next school
year. What an amazing opportunity!
in strengthening their academic
Jason Kwo ’21 is president
of Jesuit’s Pro-Life Club and
a member of the football
team, and he annually
has been one of Jesuit’s
top students in Class
Achievement.
skills (socially distanced, of course). I
spent much time with two students
in particular, Jayden and Samara.
Both of them needed to solidify their
foundations in math. Week by week,
I discovered the different ways in
which Jayden and Samara learned best,
such as the “Gallon Man” and word
problems involving cookies. Always
cookies. I was overjoyed as they
experienced more and more “A-HA!”
moments, and what struck me most
was the complete shift in their attitude
toward learning. They started summer
school reluctantly, yet by the end of
beaming smiles and “What’s up, Mr.
Jason!”
COVID-19 upended many service
opportunities offered to Jesuit students,
yet it also pushed us to seek new
possibilities. I don’t need to look far
to be a ‘Man for Others.’ In my own
community, I got to help a group of kids
grow in their love for learning, and they
helped me grow in my love for serving
others.
JASON KWO '21
Kwo during the summer 2018
mission trip to Jasper, Ga.