At the university where I completed my graduate studies, there is a program that employs some students each school year. The benefit is mutual, both for the graduate program department and for the students who obtain employment. These students are called assistants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The program coordinator is an excellent person, and knows how to guide the assistants well to cover the pertinent academic needs. The assistants, in turn, gain experience in a professional environment, making use of their training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among other responsibilities, the assistants supported some professors, transmitted information from the department and the university to the classes in which they participated, as well as coordinated enrichment and promotional events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As each year there are students who graduate, each year there are also new people for this program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My time as a graduate student has been one of the greatest experiences in my adult life. A huge challenge, from which I learned and continue to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I talked to a classmate who was ahead of me, I never missed the opportunity to hear from them about their experience trying to balance their life, work and studies. Each person, facing and navigating their challenges, found a way to get ahead in their studies. And that was also the case with the assistants . Those I got to talk to finished their time with great pride in having participated in that program; they had learned something far beyond what they learned in their classes. It was no longer theory, but took shape and a field of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the beginning of one of the school years, for some reason I was present along with other people at the first meeting . That meant that not everyone knew each other, and there would be introductions from each person, and most likely most of the responsibilities would be assigned according to the focus area of each participant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At that introductory meeting, the program coordinator welcomed everyone, mentioned the agenda and proceeded to introduce the attendees one by one. The way she introduced each person was phenomenal. She mentioned each person’s name, their study and work experience before enrolling in their postgraduate studies, as well as their area of interest. Then she described in delicate detail the work that each person was going to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wow. Each time they were introduced one by one, I could see the great preparation and expertise that each one had to be able to do their job with excellence. And it was no wondering why. Many of them would be supporting the proffessors in a direct and close way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the introductions, there was a common comment among the assistants:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Wow, hearing that description of me made me feel important. I even thought, who are they talking about? I want to meet them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As it was a repeated comment, the program coordinator told them with a smile and great warmth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Well, I’m not making anything up, what you heard is what you have achieved. I’m simply sharing it with your classmates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And you, have you ever heard a description of yourself that is difficult for you to receive?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At that meeting, I could see that the attendees left walking a little more upright, walking with more self-confidence, and very committed and grateful for participating in that program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The coordinator repeated to them once again:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-This is who you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In your experience, have you wanted to believe what someone has already seen in you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have you been able to believe what is already in you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was a moment in the gospel, in which Jesus affirms that that day the scripture has been fulfilled, receiving in himself the truth that the Spirit of God is upon him. He knew it. He believed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can you believe the good that others see in you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Jesus believed and knew that the Spirit was upon him, that is how he behaved, that is how he acted, that is how he spoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The assistants even raised their posture a little more when they heard the description that the coordinator gave of each one of them. And not only that. Some shared with me that they did not know that their experiences and training could sound so good to others, and that it reminded them that they could do a good job inside and outside the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After reading the passage from Isaiah, Jesus mentioned that that day, the scripture was fulfilled. And his behavior reflected it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The graduate assistants took a moment to reflect and receive what was seen in them and expected of them. And it was thanks to the program coordinator reminding them of what they already were that they were able to reflect those characteristics with their behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And you, do you recognize your qualities and abilities? Do you believe them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is it possible for you to reflect those qualities and abilities with your behavior?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the Spirit leads you, share with Jesus the carpenter how you could reflect with your actions those qualities and abilities that are already within you. And perhaps, you too will be surprised and walk more upright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marisol<\/p>\n\n\n\n
P.S. We can hear about Jesus declaring that the Spirit is upon him in the readings of the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year\/Cycle C.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
At the university where I completed my graduate studies, there is a program that employs some students each school year. The benefit is mutual, both for the graduate program department and for the students who obtain employment. These students are called assistants. The program coordinator is an excellent person, and knows how to guide the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8284,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general-2-2"],"yoast_head":"\n