" T h e P a t h t o S u c c e s s "

Kevin Donkor

April 2004

The Crotona Leadership & Culture Club has taught me what success really is. I see myself as an intelligent student who comes from a family that emigrated from Ghana. My wonderful family, like most, has a couple of difficulties. Not only do we struggle financially, but also with communication, especially about deeper subjects. Most of my peers, especially at school, have similar circumstances. And I regularly hear them speak about the solving these difficulties by having more material things. When I asked a full-time staff member at Crotona what being successful means, he told me my question did not make sense.

Through our discussion, and conversation with other Club members in the programs’ get-togethers in which we discuss current events, I came to see that the idea of success must have an object. It is unreasonable when someone says they merely want to be successful. Successful at what? It is like saying, “I’m good at...” without completing the idea. You can say, “I want to be a successful surgeon” because that is a profession that can be obtained or earned. There is, however, another side to success. Generally, when people say they want to be successful, they see it as having money, a very good job, to be respected, to be prominent, to be well educated, to have pleasure, etc. They assume these “things” will bring them happiness. These things aren’t bad, but it seems clear to me after exploring numerous societal issues at Crotona that “things” should be used as tools. “Things” are bad when they become the object of a person because these goods have less value than what we truly want deep in our hearts.

I’m still not sure what the proper object of success is but I now see that trying to do your best in all the aspects of life, even the little things, is necessary for it. An example of this is someone who is affluent. That person is not missing out in life if he or she puts lesser goods, such as money, below greater goods, such as love. It is when he or she makes money as their highest goal that they miss out in life because they forget that money is simply instrumental to some higher goal. Love, on the other hand, is not an instrument, but an end. It is our fundamental purpose in life because we are created for love. I used to think that love was just an emotion that people felt for one another. Then, after reflection and numerous discussions with my companions at Crotona, I discovered that we love others and God most in our actions, despite how we feel, and that the actions of greatest love are those that require sacrifice.

Virtues, such as perseverance, can be instruments that can help us to love. How does this work in my own life? One area of my life that is very important to me is my grades. People typically view grades as a life and death situation. People think that if you do not get good grades, then you will not “make it” in life. If you do get good grades, however, they assume that you will be successful in life. These people are not wrong in thinking that grades are important, but they are wrong in the reason that they see for this. The real reason that grades are important is because they indicate your understanding of life. Grades are simply an indication of improving yourself, so that you can love others more fully. I am tempted to work for good grades because it makes me feel good, feeding my pride. Instead, I should look at it as a way to serve others. This will ultimately make me happier than feeding my pride, because serving with cheerfulness is loving others, which is the path of success.

Kevin is in 8^th grade and is enrolled in the Crotona Leadership & Culture Club.

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" T e c h n o l o g y I s N o t M a g i c "

Michael Lopez

April 2004

On Saturday, April 17, 2004, the Crotona Leadership and Culture Club went to the Fordham University Computer Lab of Robotics. Like with all our Club trips, we went to have fun learning about robotics, but also how this technology can be used for the service of others.

The man showing us around was Dr. Damian Lyons. First he showed us a camera that follows movement. Then we saw a robot dog that had a computer and many different sensors. When the dog boots up, it stretches and wags its tail like a real dog. When the sensor sees the red ball, the computer tells the motors of the arms and legs to move the dog toward the ball and play with it. We saw another robot receives messages from the computer through radio waves. It had 8 ultra sound sensors in the front and 8 in the back and a camera that lets you see what the robot is doing on the computer monitor.

Afterward, we talked about how we were tempted to think only about how much fun the robots were. When we first saw the robot dog, we wanted to play with it, but then we became bored when we saw everything it could do. And when the radio controlled robot lost its signal and wouldn’t go, we became impatient. Then we remembered that the true purpose of robotics is not our entertainment but to improve the lives of people. For example, a following camera can be used in a bank in case a robbery takes place. The radio-controlled robot can rescue others in a place that is too dangerous for humans to go.

Technology can cause a temptation to value entertainment more than giving service. There is a guide called prudence, which helps us find the true good of everything. And temperance makes us realize when we really don’t need things, like a robot dog that costs $2,500. And when something takes time and we get mad about having to wait, patience helps us realize that technology is a gift.

The robots we saw could do amazing things. What matters in technology is not how fancy it is but the right use of it. And this has only to do with virtues and how they help us to do the greatest good. I learned that technology is not magic, so we shouldn’t fall under its spell.

Michael is in 6^th grade and enrolled in the Crotona Leadership & Culture Club.

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" M y F i r s t E x p e r i e n c e w i t h C r o t o n a "

Brian Leon

January 2004

The summer of 2003 turned the city of New York into a barren wasteland. It was a hot summer day - one in which I had planned to spend in my air-conditioned home. Most of my summer assignments for my new high school were almost completed. I was satisfied with the fact that this objective was nearly out of my way, and the rest of the vacation was going to be free for eating, and sleeping. Little did I know how foolish my assumption was, for not an hour later, I was disturbed by the loud ringing of the doorbell. My parents had arrived along with my noisy, younger brother. Immediately, I began to feel awkward as all three were trying to speak to me at once. I attempted to listen to them and when I felt it was impossible, I nodded my head monotonously as if I understood all that was being said. Though there were many topics being discussed simultaneously, I could boast I heard one - that of a summer camp. Apparently, this did not suit me, as I was planning to relax for the summer. My immediate response was of reprisal, “What!”

After questioning my parents and brother, I found out that I was attending a summer camp at the Crotona Center. As a recent graduate and valedictorian from a Catholic middle school going on to Fordham Prep, I felt I was superior to a camp with a name like the Crotona Center. Intrigued, I decided to check out the place. Truthfully, I was not very impressed. The outer appearance did not seem so welcoming as some of the paint was flaking off. On the inside, the walls were not in the greatest of conditions. Despite all of my incredulous doubts, I willingly entered. It was at this time I can say that I almost awakened from a deep lumbering sleep. There are many ways a person develops morals and character - intellectual, physical, and volitional. Before I set foot in Crotona, I thought I had things together, especially intellectually. But, I quickly discovered that I was not that developed in what Christian anthropology refers to as the spiritual powers - intellect and will.

Although I had done well in my short life, especially in the areas that people measure, such as school grades, I realize that I was just going through the motions without reflecting on the meaning of my various interests and activities. In other words, I hadn't yet considered or applied the "right reason" that was common to the world's great leaders and saints. For example, Crotona has challenged me to take interest in the world around me and to reflect on their meaning, cause and what their consequences might be. From a more moral perspective, I've encountered the necessity of developing the habit of self-examination. Through discussions on current events and common points of interest, I now appreciate the importance of having an open mind and "listening" (studying) before making conclusions, which prior to Crotona, were often just poor presumptions articulated inaccurately when speaking with others. The same is true with how I looked at my Faith as a Catholic. I had studied religion before and read the Bible, yet I really never "looked" at my Faith, what it means and how it affects me personally. One document that is having a profound influence on the way I think is Pope Leo XIII's "On the Nature of Human Liberty", which I study at Crotona to improve reading speed and learn how to grasp the essential meaning from text. As I learned more about Crotona's outlook on and methods of education, I realized I loved it. I made several friends, the likes of which I have not encountered in all my life. Crotona is helping me to know what a truly free man is and what he is capable of doing, where as in schools, teachers instruct specific subjects as if they are each an isolated set of concepts to be memorized. The Crotona staff differs greatly from teachers because they offer friendship. They are always accessible and open to all - something schools can't do.

It is necessary to state that this program may not be for all. At first, as you can see, I was not impressed with Crotona, but after learning more about what it offered, I now wish I had met it years before. For those who search for the Truth, Crotona can help you; it does exactly what it claims to do - cultivate responsible, free men.

Brian is a Freshman at Fordham Prep and enrolled in Crotona Leadership & Culture Club and Professional Skills Development.

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" A p p e a r a n c e v s. R e a l i t y "

Napoleon Rodriguez

January 2004

Many times because I didn't feel like studying I would get bad grades. And because I was afraid of how my parents might react, I didn't always tell them about my grades. But now after learning more about the importance of truth at Crotona, I don't want to hide or twist the truth anymore. I guess that I have less fear of punishment because I now want justice even more.

Crotona has also helped me through the example of other boys in the Leadership Club who have been practicing the virtues. I see them in our group activities such as in our games and get-togethers on current events. When people act with virtue they are more attractive and other people trust them. And, I want other people to trust me so that they can more easily accept my service. This is most important for me, especially with my parents and friends.

When I want to be attractive but am not truthful with other people, how can other people trust me when I want to share something with them? Because life is about serving others as God wants me to, I can't share with people if I don't tell the truth. Before Crotona, I was more concerned about looking good to my classmates and parents instead of being good. When I really want to look good, I can sometimes forget that only the truth is good. Sometimes I'm blinded by a desire for myself and can't see that other people deserve the truth just as I deserve it. Because of selfishness, I can forget about my parents and friends. I can forget about my purpose of being on earth which is to love and serve. The Crotona Leadership & Culture Club has a saying: to love and serve. I'm thankful for this Club because I need to be reminded of this so that I don't think only of myself but about others.

Napoleon is a 6th grader and in his third year with the Crotona Leadership & Culture Club.

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