Viking Reflections: Reanna Croasmun ’20

From the beginning of my freshman year at VASJ, I became educated about the many social justice issues in the world. As the years passed, I was given numerous opportunities to stand up for these issues and become involved in the local community.

During my sophomore year I joined Catholic Schools for Peace and Justice, a club made up of high school students passionate about human rights and making a change in the world. I attended numerous CSPJ events that not only allowed me to use my voice on important issues in society today but also gave me important information that strengthened my passion for human rights and equality. I got involved because I truly believe the first part of change is becoming educated. One of my passions is communicating my opinion, and this club was the perfect way to do so.

At such a young age I was given the opportunity to be emcee at the Rally for Life in Cleveland. Being able to lead my peers and speak on topics that may be sensitive made me realize my generation is here to make a change.

Though my time at VASJ has come to an end, the lessons and values I learned in high school allowed me to become an advocate for human rights. I chose to continue my Marianist education at the University of Dayton, where I am able to now utilize the lessons from VASJ.

At UD I am a part of two scholarship groups that emphasize the importance of diversity, education and Marianist values. I recently attended a meeting that was centered on issues within the prison system and how severe police brutality can be. The meeting not only educated me further about the BLM movement but also let me voice my opinion to other students at UD.

The issues that are going on in our country make me very angry. Human rights should not be up for debate. The issues happening across the nation make me want to make a change. As a young person in today’s society, I believe that I should stand up for what I believe in and educate myself and others on important issues. The BLM movement, in specific, is key to the future of my generation.

VASJ taught me the importance of equality, and though I may be young, my words are powerful. Realizing that God gave me the gift of using my voice is how I am able to share my faith. Romans 2:11 states, “For God shows no partiality.” Using my faith is using my education and words to spread God’s word. God calls all of us to love each other.

Reanna Croasmun is a 2020 graduate of Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School. She’s currently a Marianist Leadership Scholar at the University of Dayton.