When I think of community, the first thing that comes to mind is Xavier. The Xavier community is one that never ceases to amaze me through its selfless involvement and dedication to others. The sense of family and love is so powerful. In the case of tragedy, the togetherness of the community is unbelievably strong. Without a doubt, the Xavier community is something I’m extremely proud to be a part of.

Having a community that comes together during times of struggle is so important in overcoming the obstacles of life. This year has been a year full of obstacles that definitely challenged the strength of the Xavier community. One obstacle the community had to face was the flood in late-September. After the flood in 2008, everyone knew the importance of quickly readying sandbags early in the flooding process. Never have I seen more people filling and placing sandbags in my life. One thing that I could not help but notice during the time I spent filling sandbags and helping Cedar Rapids residents move their furniture and other belongings is that everywhere I looked, I saw a member of the Xavier community. Although we had no school for a week and people could have used that time to stay at home to relax and sleep, the majority of the Xavier population went out and made every effort to do anything they could to help prepare for the rising water levels. Once the water finally started regressing, the community returned to help clean up the post-flood aftermath. Once again, this is a reason I’m so proud to be a part of the Xavier community.

Another instance when a strong community is necessary is in the event of the passing of a loved one. Unfortunately, you can’t stop death from happening, but you can celebrate the life the person was blessed to have lived and be there for the families of the loved ones and for each other. This has been a tough year for the Saints in this category, but we are blessed, whether we personally knew them or not, to have had Mr. Kramer, Will Richmond, Sue Cooling, and many others who have passed as a part of our community. Each one of them has made an impact in many of our lives, whether they were aware of it or not. One example is displayed through the various WillPower and SueStrong apparel and accessories. Attending a morning rosary and holding hands during class while saying an Our Father just add on to the reasons why I love the Xavier community, and I have never been more proud to wear SueStrong on the back of my basketball warm-up shirt. The joy and happiness they brought into the Xavier community was indescribable, and we are forever thankful and blessed to have had them in our lives.

Along with coming together in times of grief and suffering, the Xavier community also comes together to support and celebrate the accomplishments of many different activities, including sports, show choir, band, etc. While it’s not possible for people to attend every event that takes place, everyone is still supporting and cheering on all participants. The size of the crowd or the audience does not fully showcase how much support each activity receives, but let me tell you, there really is no better feeling than getting a big win and looking up into the crowd afterward and seeing all your friends, family, and classmates celebrating along with you.

Whatever the reason, I can honestly say that my favorite part about going to Xavier is being a piece of the puzzle that is the Xavier community. Through good times and bad, the highs and the lows, I know that I can always turn to this amazing community for guidance. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Jess Callahan