I am so thankful for growing up with the Salesians. They are the most charismatic and pro-active people I know. The mission of the Salesians is to befriend and educate the young and the poor, but they do more than simply teaching. Never would I have thought attending a certain school could change my whole life. The Salesians have a special way of bringing the youth closer to their faith. You can find Salesians around the globe from the United States to the Philippines. Despite the distance, the community is so tight-knit that it seems we live right next door to one another.

But here are some reasons why I am so in love with being Salesian:

1. The Salesian charisma is like no other

There are three things that make the Salesians so special: the spirituality; service; and spunk. You could have gone to a Salesian school, retreat or even just know a Salesian and you are instantaneously (spiritually) attracted to them. The atmosphere is so uplifting, playful and young-spirited. You may attend a Jesuit institution or work in a business office, and you can tell that it’s not the same. Don Bosco often said that anyone who enters a Salesian place has been called by Mary to be there and will always place them under her mantle of protection. No big deal or anything.

2. The Salesian priests, brothers and sisters are the best clergy ever

Fun fact: Catholichipster.com is a fun blog that runs a playful competition for “Habited Hipsters” (religious sisters) and “Hipsters with Holy Orders” (religious priest/brothers). Sr. Brittany Harrison, FMA, was the “Habited Hipster” of 2015 and Br. Stephen Eguino, SDB, is the “Hipster with Holy Orders” of 2016. Fun fact two: The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA, aka Salesian Sisters) are the largest female religious order in the world. Fun fact three: Pope Francis attended a Salesian elementary school which explains why he is rockin’ it as “the People’s Pope." All fun facts aside, the Salesian religious community are always leading by example for us. We can find them in the classroom or probably beating us in a basketball game. These are the people who dedicate their lives for the young and the poor. I am forever grateful that they continue to share Don Bosco’s spirit and oratory with us.

3. The Salesian laity are equally as great

Don Bosco needed assistance from a group of people to watch over his hundreds of boys. The Salesian Cooperators, teachers, youth ministers and missionaries do not receive enough credit for all of the hard work behind the scenes. These are the people who make a huge impact on the lives of the young. They spend months teaching, playing, mentoring, and planning events to make our experience the best it can be. The Salesian awesomeness doesn’t stop there! You can’t forget an important part of the Salesians -- the youth! The young is the reason why we are all here. My Salesian friends are a blessing in my life. I have best friends in New Jersey, New York, St. Petersburg, Miami, New Orleans, Mobile, Naples and the DMV. Their motivation to continue “living the fourth” is always a reminder why I love the Salesians so much.

4. We are “Salesians of Service”

“The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself through service. Faith is the first factor devoted to service. Without it, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible." One of Don Bosco’s Way to Holiness is “to serve rather than be served." So naturally, service hours are mandatory in high school. But now that I’ve graduated, community service has become more a passion than a chore. It is now second nature to volunteer to craft with the elderly or carry heavy desks from the third floor to the dumpster (without an elevator). SOS allows students to be servant leaders in the community in the Salesian way. The service group, initially formed in New Orleans, has now expanded to Florida and New Jersey!

5. Salesian reunions are inevitable

Salesian opportunities include: Salesian Leadership Retreat (SLR); Gospel Roads (GR); Nicaragua mission trip; Young Adult Retreat (YAR); and Empowering Salesian Leaders (ESL). I met so many life-long friends through these wonderful programs. It’s crazy how you can become so close in so little time with strangers when you’re all from different cities. But I recently realized that there is no such thing as “goodbye” with the Salesians, just a “see you later." As cheesy as it sounds, managing long-distance friends is often hard. It involves a lot of communication and effort. Every time we reunite, it seems like this is the last time we’ll see each other for a while. But since my first Salesian experience, I’ve been reunited with friends from 1,000 miles away every year. You may go to school 100 miles away from home but you never know, the girl next to you in microeconomics class could be Salesian.

6. The Salesian Youth Movement is the greatest thing to happen since the invention of GIFs

This movement established in 1988 “of young people for young people” is another reminder that the Salesian spirituality does not end after graduation. It continues on as you go to college, work in the real world and raise your family. It is exciting to have a group of people on fire to transform the world. “The SYM brings together young people from every kind of background, from those who are far from the Church and for whom spirituality is barely a seed, to those who explicitly and consciously take upon themselves the Salesian proposal and apostolic commitment” (Vatican).

7. I Am Salesian

Once you are Salesian, you are in it for life. The "Salesian DNA" is much more than going to a Salesian school. It is who you are. You find yourself in love with doing service, yearning to reunite with fellow Salesians, or even pondering when Father Abe will be Rector Major. There is no Salesian college which makes adjusting post-high school a bit harder. But in the end, your heart belongs with the Salesians.

I am young. I am loved. I am Salesian.