Releases

Therese Mance is an activities coordinator at Rachael's Women's Center in Washington, D.C.

Who, if anyone, has had the biggest impact on you as a Jesuit Volunteer?

My clients have had the biggest impact on me during my time in JVC. They put me to the test upon my arrival. Once they began to trust me, we created this understanding and we can help each other.

What is one thing you've learned to appreciate as a Jesuit Volunteer?

I’ve learned to appreciate the way that I was brought up. I have learned to appreciate the importance of family, friends, and most of all communication. I’ve been fortunate enough to stay in close contact with my family, but I’ve also learned the importance of communicating face to face. Whether it be discussing a community issue with my fellow JVs or work with my clients to discuss what we’re doing that day, communication with all kinds of people is essential.

Do you have advice for people who are considering applying for JVC?

My advice for those who are considering doing JVC would be stay open-minded and willing to participate. This is a program that gives back just as much, if not more, than what you’re willing to give. If you make it into JVC, it means that you have the potential to make it through a year of challenges that go beyond what most people our age ever had to endure.

That being said, where you are placed will be hard, it will be frustrating, and more than anything it will be rewarding and educational. You’ll come home at night being thankful for the food before you, the company around you, and the fire within you to wake up and work to end the injustice that you face daily. Stand strong and stay focused to what you believe in, but stay open and ready to listen.

What are your post-JVC ambitions?

Since joining JVC, I’ve discovered a passion for working with people struggling with mental illness. I hope to find a job and an educational program that would best suit my capabilities.

I love to make others aware of their gifts and potential. I have begun looking into grassroots organizations that deal with clients living in rural poverty that don’t have access to proper psychiatric health care.