Redemption: A Podcast

 

 

A Transcript of the podcast is below:

Redemption: In the dictionary it means, “The action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil. To some people, it is a religious word, meaning coming back into the faith; for others, it is a means to gain back fidelity, a way to make up for a wrong. But what does redemption mean here, and can any of us really achieve it?

One of the key components to consider in answering this question is the environment. The school talks about responsibility and frequently teaches the religious aspects of redemption, but does the school treat all students the same when it comes to second chances?

For sophomore Matthew Yaeger the complex relationship between responsibility and redemption is delicate balance. “The attitude [at Catholic] is really trying to make you do things yourself and be independent, but there’s also an emphasis on brotherhood,” said Yaeger. “Interdependence, sort of.”

Teachers may see the issue from a completely different perspective. “I think the message is hard work; that’s probably the number one thing we try to establish in the classroom for these kids is that if you work hard, you can be successful,” said Mr. Todd Ezzi.

Is hard work enough to make room for redemption?

Nelson Govia is someone whom you might consider a troubled student. “Around me specifically, I feel like I deserve a lot of the punishments I receive,” said Govia. “I’m probably called out two to three times every class.”

But, he still thinks that there is room for redemption within the school. “I feel like there’s always room for redemption, but you only get so many chances,” said Govia. “There’s some bad kids that have been at Catholic who got suspended or expelled, then came back and turned it all around.”

Mr. Ezzi agrees. “Absolutely. Some of my favorite students are kids that have come in and struggled in the beginning and have turned it around and went from having a D to now having a B or an A,” said Mr. Ezzi. “Those are my favorite kind of kids: ones that see a problem and fix that problem and turn things around. I definitely think that’s a huge part of what we’re teaching here.”

Mr. Thomas Handloser is a teacher famous for his stories about funny or difficult students, and usually these stories end with the student coming back five years later with a degree in engineering, medical science, or business. So, what does he have to say about redemption?

“There’s definitely room for redemption. For some students it takes a few months, a year or two; for others, it takes several years,” said Mr. Handloser. “For example, I had this one kid who was very bad in class—always acting stupid and talking, the usual stuff. He did not improve throughout his time at Catholic, but about 10 or so years later he came up to me at a restaurant, shook my hand, introduced himself, and apologized.”

While students and teachers may seem to be on opposite sides of everything sometimes, both come together to create the possibility of redemption. As Mr. Handloser says, “There is always hope.”

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