Many children express their desire for a dream profession. Often, this desire changes as they grow up, but from a very young age, I knew I wanted to enter the priesthood. I met a priest in my formative years who helped me shape and grow into this dream; he has helped me time and again to find the right path to realize my eventual goal of entering the priesthood. It was recommended, by multiple members of the clergy, that I attend the University of Illinois at Chicago to study philosophy, as it is superior to many of the alternatives due to the staff; Professors Sedgewick and Jarrett in Ethics and Metaphysics have always produced work that interests me. The study of ethics and metaphysics is one of the most important steps towards my final goal.
I have never been one to do things half-heartedly: when I learned that I had to study philosophy to become a priest, I began to read a lot in my free time. I’ve always been dedicated and somewhat stubborn: when I was in eighth grade, I completed Henryk Sienkiewicz’s Trilogy because I felt that the intellectual challenge would be good for me. I also studied philosophy for two years in Poland, where my studies included the ancient philosophers, such as Aristotle, Plato, and the Hellenists, as well as some of the more modern thinkers like Nietzsche, Kant, Kierkegaard, and so on. I am eager for the experience of a more guided study of ethics and metaphysics at an institution like the University of Illinois at Chicago.
One of the most amazing experiences that I’ve had in a professional capacity occurred last year: I was allowed to minister the parish under the supervision of the pastor. The service lasted for an entire year, and I was allowed to prepare the youth congregation for Confirmation, and the children’s congregation for their First Communion. During this time, I also prepared a variety of projects on pastoral posters.
In addition to my work with the congregation, I also enjoy traveling and playing tennis, and I feel that these varied interests make me a more multidimensional person. I feel that God has called me to this life of service and sacrament, and I must do everything that I can to succeed. I am the first in my family to attend a tertiary institution, and I believe that God has provided me with this unique opportunity because it is my calling.
