It is always difficult when you first receive the news that a loved one has passed. For me, I got the news after finishing my final shift working the freshmen orientation at my school. A friend had told me about the passing of the director of the Bonner Center here at TCNJ and I was in complete disbelief, and I was heartbroken to say the least. And although it is still hard to wrap my head around the fact that you, the director of the Bonner Center, are actually gone, I want to take this time to remember the short but very valuable time that I had the chance to know you.
It was the summer following my junior year when I was introduced to you and immediately I could see the passion that you had for social justice. And over the course of the three years that I worked with you, I noticed how this passion that you had was transferred onto everyone you worked with. Pat, you made us all feel like we had superpowers, like our young voices had the power to fix all of the problems in this world. It was your spirit that inspired all of us to have hope, show compassion, and have dedication and put love into our social justice work. Your saying always was "to find something in this world that pisses you off and change it". You made it sound so simple, which is why we all believe that we can truly fix problems in this world. Personally, you made me believe in the work that I did and made me feel that I had the power to make a large impact on this world; for this I am thankful.
Despite teaching me to have faith in myself, you also taught me another valuable lesson. You taught me how to see my patrons and more importantly how to see people. You taught me that I am not doing anyone a favor by being at the sites. The people who we serve are not incapable, and we are not there to help, but rather to empower and remind people of their power. I was able to take this away in the way I see people in general; everyone - no matter what their circumstance is - deserves to be respected and treated like a human-being. I am thankful for this lesson that you taught me.
You also gave me lasting friendships with some of the most amazing people I've ever met. Being a Bonner is more than just being involved with community service. We have a family in Bonner, and some of the greatest people I've met on this campus I've met through the program. I am thankful for the Bonner family you've created with and for us.
Pat, I can’t thank you enough for being such an amazing light in my life. And though you’re not here with us, the crazy, passionate spirit for social justice you've created still lives with me and many of those who you have touched. I am thankful that I had the chance to know you and that you were able to touch my life in such an amazing way.
We should spend this holiday season remembering our loved ones who are no longer with us, but also being thankful for the time that we were able to spend with them. Like I said, even though they are not physically with us, their spirit, their memory, and their love still lives on.
