An Evening to Remember

On March fourth as  I arrived at our Amelia Gathering Room for the evening program  it was apparent that there was going to be a crowd as workers were scurrying about to bring in more chairs/

 

When I thought about the fact that our speaker, Leo, was a member of our own dining staff, I realized that both residents and staff members would want to hear his life story.   We knew that he came from Senegal in Africa to live in Chicago.  He came to us from Chicago where he had worked at the Admiral, a Kendal community located there.   He had came here from Chicago because of his plan to enter Ohio State University to study medicine. 

In the short time this young man has been here we have been impressed by his quiet, courteous demeanor as he fulfills his duties in our dining rooms. 

As his story unfolded we learned that he had three sisters – two older and one younger than him.   He described to us the extreme poverty in Senegal where food, clean water, and good sanitation measures are in short supply.  His family was so poor that when they took the bus he had to sit on his mother’s lap which embarrassed him as he grew older. Whenever he spoke of his mother it was with great respect.  As I listened to him speak about his Mama I developed the distinct impression that it was she who had been instrumental in shaping his attitudes and values. 

 

He enumerated for us the many struggles he encountered in order to get his education in Africa.  Throughout this part of his story there was no hint of complaint about the obstacles he had to overcome.  Instead he emphasized the importance of hard work, determination, and self confidence to achieving success.

His father had already emigrated to Chicago when he decided to come to the United States.  Upon arrival in this country he was able to speak three languages - French and the tribal language of each of his parents – but not English.    Unable to speak English and with little money his life during his early days in Chicago were not easy. With characteristic hard work, determination he went hungry at times and learned English largely by watching television and You Tubes on the internet.  When he spoke of these problems it was not as a complaint but just a vignette illustrating his early life in the United States. 

We learned that one of his passions is playing soccer.  When asked how old he was when he started to play soccer, his answer was, “When I started to walk.”  As the grandmother of two grandsons who have not only played soccer for years but became soccer referees  for recreational soccer while still in their teens I understood that and knew what it meant in terms of getting to practices and games. 

While in Chicago he made the decision to become a doctor.  His search for a medical school he believed would be best suited for him led him to Ohio State University where he anticipated receiving a scholarship which would pay for his education.  When the scholarship did not turn out as anticipated, he looked for other ways to pay for his education.  As many other young men in this country have done, he chose enlisting in the Army as the pathway for him.  Sadly for those of us here who have grown fond of Leo it means he will be leaving us shortly to begin his enlistment.

He talked to us briefly about a friend who is involved in developing awareness of   African music and showed a short video excerpt of his work.  

Throughout his presentation, Leo never complained about the hard tines in his life, but emphasized the need to accept hardships and continue onward with self confidence.

His humble attitude about his considerable accomplishments was impressive. 

 When he concluded his presentation, the applause was long and enthusiastic with the audience on their feet to show their respect for a young man who has come so far in his journey at the age of 25.

During the question and answer period when asked if he was a citizen, he told us that he had only been here four years and this fall when he will have been here five years he plans to become a citizen.  His response to a question about returning to Senegal, he replied to the effect that he believes in paying back and so would find a way to do that.

It was a moving experience to hear Leo tell his story.  I hope and pray he will do well as he journeys onward and hope that he will keep in touch with us so we can follow his story where ever he goes.

Truly the evening was one to remember - an event that illustrates why Kendal at Granville is a good place to work and to live.