The SJA community will be exploring “Service to the Dear Neighbor without Distinction,” one of the facets of the Academy’s Character of a Graduate statement. A student who serves the dear neighbor recognizes “relationship as the primary service[, and] she makes herself vulnerable in meeting the unmet needs of others.”
With this theme in mind, the Learn to Love Committee selected books from suggestions that were gathered from all members of the SJA community. The list includes titles at various reading levels, from various genres, and on an array of topics to meet the needs and interests of our student population. All students are required to read at least one title from the above list that they have not read before.
Because conflict is essential to storytelling, many of the books deal with difficult situations and complex problems. Some titles have content that might be upsetting or might provoke strong emotional responses. Families should help their student carefully discern which book is best and are encouraged to look at book reviews and descriptions before choosing a book to read. We also invite families to read along with their student.
In September 2024, students will meet in their homerooms to further explore Service to the Dear Neighbor by discussing the books they have read. The small-group setting allows us to deepen our relationships and pray together. Because this experience is at the heart of what it means to be a member of the SJA community and because we value academic integrity, it is an expectation that all students come prepared to actively participate in the day’s events.
In addition to your understanding of how the book relates to Service to the Dear Neighbor, you should also be prepared to provide a synopsis of the book for those who did not read the same one as you. While you read the book, think about which passages or quotations have an impact on the way you think about service. Keep track of these as you read, and use them to prepare to discuss the following questions:
Service can have multiple manifestations locally and globally. Being present to the needs of those with whom you interact on a daily basis is also a way to serve. What examples of service can you identify in the book you read? What were some missed opportunities for service?
Another important aspect of service is how we interact with those we serve. Service isn’t something done to another; we serve alongside others, aware that our humanity makes us all the same in the eyes of God. This is what we mean by mutuality, a main tenant of the SJA mission. How were the characters/people in your book treated as Dear Neighbors? How were they not?
How would you describe the main characters? What qualities or characteristics did they demonstrate during their acts of service? What challenges did the main characters have to overcome in order to better serve?
How did the characters grow or change in their understanding of service throughout the book? How did your understanding of service change or grow as a result of reading this book?
How did the characters grow in understanding of the Dear Neighbor throughout the book? How did your understanding of the Dear Neighbor grow as a result of reading this book?
How can you apply what you have learned from the book in your own life? What is the take-away?
