Catholic Schools Week Interview with Javari Hines '17

Javari Hines ’17
Came to VASJ from St. Jerome School
A member of VASJ’s Marianist Urban Students Program
Plans to major in Engineering

Why did you choose to attend a Catholic High School?

I have been a part of Catholic school since third grade. I always liked the education I got from my previous schools so I thought moving forward that was something that I would like to be a part of. 

What makes a Catholic education unique?

How you can open up and talk about your faith. I know my friends at other schools don’t begin class with prayer and here we begin every class with prayer. More one-on-one attention. Teachers also have good morals and they aren’t just doing it for the check. They are really there for the students. 

Why do you think Catholic schools are important?

You get to be open about your faith and not a lot of other schools have that. You get to grow with others. You get to develop relationships with others. It’s more virtuous and you care about others and it’s a place where you can be completely open with others. 

Why did you choose to attend VASJ?

I shadowed and I really liked how the school was family-oriented and with me being in the community down the street, the school is all about giving back to the community so it only made sense to go to a place where I would be welcomed and would have an opportunity to give back to the community where I live. 

What makes VASJ unique? 

VASJ is a smaller school. You don’t see a lot of schools that have students who know each other so well. We have the rare opportunity to get to know everyone. You get more opportunities to focus on service, to show off your talents and abilities, opportunities to talk to your peers and advisors, and you get a lot of one-on-one opportunities that you don’t see everywhere else. 

Why are religion classes an important part of the high school experience?

You’re given time to talk and grow in your faith with an older person who knows more and can give you guidance. You’re given a chance to learn how to pray properly, a chance to read the Bible and study the scriptures. You get the opportunity to learn about other faiths, as well. It’s really educational. Some of the things I learned in religion class last year, learning about other faiths, inspired me and changed the way I thought. I’m more mindful about why other religions do things. That is a rare opportunity. 

In what ways has attending VASJ taught you the importance of serving others?

Service is important but it’s all about giving back because we seem to have taken a lot of things for granted. We get the chance to attend a Catholic high school while other students don’t even have a lot to eat at lunch. You’re learning to use your gifts to give back to other people. It goes a long way to extend what you have to other people. 

How do you think your Catholic education has prepared you for life after high school?

It gave me a chance to be more knowledgeable about the world around me knowing that I’m not going to be surrounded by people that are just in my faith and knowing how to respect others. This is a very diverse school so having the opportunity to experience different races, ethnicities, and religions is rare. People are always going to have their own differences so learning to grow with people and understanding people has been valuable. I feel like as an engineer I will be able to better work with people who have different ideas and beliefs.  

How does the faculty and staff at VASJ help students to grow in their faith?

It’s all about being respectful and I like how I’m able to develop relationships with my teachers. They guide me by showing me who they are and what their virtues are. They inspire me. They are open and tell you that they are praying for you and you can feel it. The honesty and how they care about people is reciprocated between faculty and students. 

Why are you grateful that you are able to attend a Catholic school?

The teachers, faculty, and the peers care about you and they want to see you do well. Everyone has goals that they have set for themselves and it is nice when you are getting encouraged by people who want to see you do well. I’m also grateful because not everyone has this experience and when I tell people about the faith groups they are amazed by the different type of high school experience I’ve had. It’s life-changing. It’s an above average experience and it’s a worthwhile opportunity for people who are given the chance.