“We need to be aware of the social injustice in our community so that we can address the problems; we need to help others who are less fortunate than us,” says Dianna Roxas, a senior at Cabrini High School.
Roxas’ most rewarding volunteer experience was when she had the opportunity to go on a mission trip in Jackson, Mississippi, through Catholic HEART Workcamp to learn and experience service to others. This week-long Workcamp had a theme of “Beautiful Mess: It is. We are.”
“This theme stood out to me because it described the world we’re living in now,” says Roxas. “Even as people we’re a beautiful mess. God still loves people who are not perfect despite their messiness.”
Through her different volunteer experiences, Roxas feels like she’s made others happy by showing compassion through activism. She has gained a new perspective of what it means to serve the community.
This past March, Roxas attended the March For Life in Washington, D.C. with Cabrini. She says it was very moving to see how many people were walking alongside her and her classmates.
“Throughout the trip we were reminded that we were pilgrims, not tourists,” she says. “This was a good reminder that I wasn’t on vacation, that I was on a mission to save the lives of my brothers and sisters.”
Nadine Pizer, a junior religion teacher at Cabrini High School, is Roxas’ inspiration to become an activist because Pizer is involved with social justice issues. Pizer brings her students to St. Joseph’s Rebuild to give them the full experience of serving the less fortunate in their community.
Roxas is also apart of Cabrini's Campus Ministry team, Teen C.R.O.S.S. and St. Clement of Rome’s church parish and CYO. These organizations have helped build up her leadership skills and opened her to spiritual and service events.
Roxas would like to become a religious educator or youth ministry coordinator because she wants to help guide teenagers to a spiritual life. Throughout college, she hopes to continue her involvement in the community by volunteering at local charity organizations and in her church.
