Serving as a Role Model
When he arrived for Freshman Orientation at St. John’s University,
Sherwin Cadore listened to strong messages of support and
encouragement from Orientation leaders, faculty, administrators and
others from every corner of the University. He heard the messages,
but wasn’t sure if he believed them.
“I asked myself, ‘How much of this can be real?’” In his time at
St. John’s, Sherwin set out to answer his own question, adding that
“I’ve never been disappointed.”
Four years have passed, and Sherwin credits many members of the St.
John’s family for his recent induction into the President’s
Society. “Since freshman year I wanted to be more than just a
student coming to class who only had a loose connection with the
University.”
A
Management major in The Peter J. Tobin College of Business,
Sherwin had a mission when he arrived at St. John’s. He wanted to
know what made students excel. “It didn’t take long for me to put
two and two together. You extend yourself beyond the classroom,
engage in extracurricular activities that support your academic
goals and give you a practical outlet. That’s a recipe for
success.”
Several friends of Sherwin’s were members of the President’s
Society and encouraged him to apply. “I became excited at the
opportunities being in the President’s Society offered me, and what
you can accomplish as a member” — including serving as a role model
for others.
Being a role model means that people look to you for answers and
direction, Sherwin observed. “You’re really conscious of your
actions, how you carry yourself and the things you value.”
Reflection and Support
From the beginning of his career at St. John’s, Sherwin embraced
the Vincentian ideal of service to those less fortunate.
Orientation leaders encouraged him to develop that sense of mission
and he did so by distributing food to homeless New Yorkers through
“midnight runs” and serving in soup kitchens. He participated in
Academic Service-Learning as a freshman as well. Of his experience
with service, he observed that what stayed with him the longest was
the reflection that followed.
Sherwin praised St. John’s for helping develop his desire not only
to perform service, but to consider the meaning and impact of those
works. Reflection “is really the greatest part of (service),” he
said, adding that “it guides my direction for the next step.”
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