It’s A Darst Day!
“It’s a Darst Day!”
exclaims Group 8 as they enter the Darst Center for another day of service. Eddie, one of the high school volunteers, whose group initially coined the phrase “It’s a Darst Day”, explained the term as a matter of attitude and energy. But it’s what’s behind the phrase that really speaks to these volunteers' experience. A Darst Day of service is more than just cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming staircases, churning compost- it’s about finding the joy in being with others, in accomplishing things with our hands, channeling productivity into visible outcomes, and above all, it’s the go-getter attitude that points straight to what Br. David Darst was all about- action.
It has been a privilege this fall for the Br. David Darst Center to work with roughly thirty high school seniors volunteer's from St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, IL. The students are a part of a yearlong service-learning class with roughly eighty other students and two teachers. Students rotate in smaller groups between various partner agencies around Chicago doing direct service and spending class time analyzing systemic issues, moral vs. values-based attitudes, learning about social justice topics, and Catholic Social Teaching.
What does it mean to do service at the Darst Center? Service for us looks like vacuums, compost bins, all-natural cleaners, and lots of physical labor, something our volunteers eagerly dove into every day. Laundry folding–no problem! Bathroom cleaning–bring it on! Deep cleaning the kitchen–done…what’s next?
Emily Redfern, a Development Associate and Lasallian Volunteer, oversaw the groups' experience and worked alongside them as the Darst Volunteer Coordinator. She goes on to explain that,
“We really wanted to make sure the volunteers got to see the results of their service and pulled back a lot for the group to see how even small tasks can be a huge help. A lesson that can also be applied to life, small changes leading to bigger affects. Am I saying that cleaning a bathroom, vacuuming a floor, and raking leaves can make a difference? You bet! And I think that’s what’s behind the phrase “It’s A Darst Day!” for the volunteers; it’s a day to get the little things done in the biggest way possible. It’s the little things that we accomplish every day that stand to make the systemic change we seek. It’s the attitude of bringing joy to tasks that make things fun and possible.”
Each group had a remarkable attitude to every task given to them. Turn on the tunes, sing a few carols, take over the Snapchat, bounce college essay ideas off each other, and the joy of being together turned the small tasks into big accomplishments.
What was most surprising was watching the confidence of completing unfamiliar tasks such as compost or cutting onions affect the volunteers. Bradley pretty much fell in love with folding laundry, Madeline documented her groups' Darst experience via Snapchat every day (this semester we launched the Darst Center Snapchat; Snap: DarstCenter to follow us), Sayani became a mopping expert, Lotti aced bubble letters, Carlos mastered the art of cleaning a bathroom, and the accomplishments continue on.
On behalf of all of us at the Darst Center, thank you St. Ignatius and keep having a Darst Day attitude!
