This month's outside look features the Faith Liaison Richard Imo.

By: Lili Hovsepyan

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Lili: What’s your role in the school because I know you have something to do with the Youth Ministry?

Richard: I’m sort of the figurehead of the Youth Ministry, as well as I would say its president. I was appointed to that position by Mr. Battilana and Ms. Bruno, as well as the rest of Chaplaincy. I assume it probably does stem from the fact that I’m Student Government’s first elected member to be named the faith liaison. They had the position created last year, from what I remember, and it was to bring in another person within Student Government to sort of act between the Chaplaincy and the Student Government and sort of deal with maybe if they had to organise masses, get student government involved, anything like that or even if student government wanted to do something with Chaplaincy, a person who would mediate between the two. So I am the first person to actually be elected to the position since it was created.

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Lili: Have you ever been on Student Government before or is this your first year?

Richard: No, no, not even in my previous years at my other high school. I was never really interested with the idea or really any clubs in general. I mean, I had been interested in the concept of a club at some point, but usually just the idea of maybe just something where I could mess around with friends and not really do anything. But, as of right now, I am in an organisation within the school that is I would say the strongest or rather, like most powerful club in the school. So we have, like, a lot more responsibility, so basically zero to 60 for me, yeah. 

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Lili: What would you say is your greatest accomplishment in the school? 

Richard: Greatest accomplishment in the school? I mean, I don't wanna leave off just saying that, like, there wasn't anything. I guess it would certainly be the awards that I've won. I feel like my greatest accomplishment is just constantly ongoing. It's just my service to the Catholic community as a whole. Anything usually that I can do for the school, within reason, I would do because not only is it a good look for me, but I feel like it's best to give your abilities to help other people around you; it's sort of pushed me to do a lot of the things that I would do in life. For example, I wanted to go into engineering in the future because I feel like people who have intelligence, smarts or the drive to do anything, they should like, make it their goal to help others with those drives, and I feel as if my greatest achievement would be continuing to do this throughout my life. My greatest achievement I feel should be nonstop and shouldn't necessarily end. 

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Lili: And so you want to go into engineering? 

Richard: Oh, yeah, I've already applied to UFT and McMasters for health sciences is my secondary idea. But mostly it's going to be engineering because it takes you to a lot of places where you can go. So honestly, if anyone were to hear this, I would definitely recommend engineering cause would open a lot of opportunities for you, and if you ever feel as if one part of it doesn't feel like it's suiting you, there's always another place to go to. Most universities offer a general engineering course for their first year.

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Lili: Do you have any favourite memories of the cross? 

Richard: I think grade 11 drama class. It was when we put on the play The Wizard of Oz. It definitely brought me out of my shell and really made me come into myself, as a student within this school.

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Lili: And what, like, motivates you to be a good student and a good person?

Richard: I think it's probably my parents. I mean, they definitely talk about my potential a whole lot. They definitely say that there's so much that I can do with myself and really, I do know that. Like, when I really examine myself, I know that I can always go further faster, farther, but maybe I would be able to if I fix my sleep schedule at least. But certainly my parents pushed me, and I'd say that if they didn't push me, I don't think I would have ever changed or blossomed into the person that I am right now. I think, like a lot of the struggles that I went through, in elementary school, just as a person definitely helped me and made me the person that I am today. I like to be observant of things now, and maybe a little more aware of things around me. And I think my parents definitely pushed me to make those changes because if I wasn't gonna make them, nobody's really gonna make those changes.

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Lili: And final question, what do you have anything to say to future graduates of Holy Cross? 

Richard: Get your stuff done early. Anything that you can get done early, get it done early. Join as many clubs as you can and make sure that you can open yourself to as many opportunities as possible. Anyone can easily get good grades, so, universities probably won't be looking for that as much anymore. There's gonna be way more challenges, way more people pushing themselves and doing things outside of school, that universities are gonna be far more interested in, so I'd say maybe write a research paper or start a small little project out there, or maybe start a side business, show that you can be an adult outside of school. In any way, whatsoever, certainly show universities that you might as well have already been a student at a university before you enter university. Maybe take extra courses outside of the school, maybe write an essay outside of the school. Do something outside of school that doesn't just have to do with school. And I'm not just saying regular extracurriculars, I mean, do something that you'd expect yourself to do in college. Try to make it so that the college or university experience isn't that new to yourself. 

 

Lili: All right, well, that's it. 

Richard: Thank you.