When I told people that I was doing a year of service in Chicago and that I was going to live with 10 strangers, sharing food, bathrooms, cars, and basically our lives with each other, they thought I was crazy. And honestly, they’re right! In our individualistic culture today, it’s a crazy thing to think about living intentionally with people the same age as you and you have no idea who these people are until you move in together in July. And yet, community life was one of the most impactful components of my year of service and leadership development with Amate House.
I had heard a lot about the concept of “community” in undergrad. While at Creighton University, community was embedded in all parts of the student experience from the residence halls to retreats to even the academic programs and athletics. When people ask me and my Creighton friends what our favorite part of Creighton was or why we chose to go there, you typically will hear “the community.” And what a beautiful thing that is! To find a space for four years where one can feel connected to literally anyone on campus is a feeling like no other. This was and still is my idea of community – where people feel loved, welcomed, and vulnerable with one another. Little did I know that my idea of community would not only be affirmed but also wonderfully challenged during my year of service in Chicago.