Mark Barry

Mark Barry on the field with a student and player

Service Site: San Miguel Schools – Back of the Yards Campus, Chicago, IL

College: Bryant University, RI

What do you do?
I am the 8th grade Science Teacher, Social Studies Teacher, Reading Teacher; the Varsity Co-ed soccer coach, Varsity Boys Basketball Coach, Varsity Boys 16” Softball Coach, and a Bus Driver.

Why did you choose to become a Lasallian Volunteer?  Have your hopes about the Program been realized?
The main reason I became a Lasallian Volunteer was because of the three pillars of the Lasallian Volunteers: faith, service, and community. Having attended La Salle Academy in Providence, RI my faith life became more important to me. The opportunity to help serve those who are less fortunate than I am was the biggest influence in choosing to join the Lasallian Volunteers. It has given me the opportunity to be in a classroom and be a teacher, which is a vocation I want to continue when my time ends with the Lasallian Volunteers. The community aspect was particularly appealing to me as well. To know I would be living with people who have the same values as me was really important. I would not feel like I was in the minority when I expressed my faith and desire to help those in need.

My hopes for the program have been realized. Every day I am excited, happy, and anxious to go to work. I very much enjoy what I do, not only in the classroom, but in the community as well. It is something I hardly see as an obligation and more as something I am doing because I like to be there.

Mark Barry in front of San Miguel 8th grade class

What is the most challenging obstacle that your students/clients/guests face?  How do your school/agency and your own outreach try to empower them to overcome this obstacle?
The most challenging obstacle that my students face is to find a safe and productive place to do their school work. The neighborhood where my students live forces them to grow up extremely quickly. San Miguel provides a safe place to learn, have fun, and a place where middle school students can feel free to act their age. San Miguel also offers an outreach program to the parents and families. Our family outreach program gives parents access to tools they need to support their children and it keeps them involved and invested in their children and the school. Finally, San Miguel’s graduate support team eases the application process for high schools, tracks graduates throughout high school, and provides tutoring and other events during their high school years.

Do you see yourself as different now from your friends from college as a result of the LV experience? How so?
I see a difference between myself and my friends from college as a result of the Lasallian Volunteers. When I reconnect and talk with friends from college I always have a positive outlook and express my fulfillment with my job. They do not always share those same sentiments about their positions in corporate America. I think the support I receive from San Miguel, the LV program, and my community contributes to an easier transition from college life to work. Additionally, it makes me that much happier and prepared for work every day.

Having to pack up and move away from home to work in the inner city of Chicago has helped me mature and grow up faster than many of my friends from college. I have been fortunate enough to have different experiences than what I was accustomed to and that has provided me a much broader picture of the world.

Why would you recommend the LV program to a college senior considering volunteering?
I would recommend the LV program to a college senior looking for a unique opportunity to explore, serve, and be in solidarity with many communities in need of love. The LV program offers a great chance to explore different vocations, work in a way that changes the lives of people, see different parts of the country, and make many connections in the Lasallian Family.

Why would you recommend a contribution to the Lasallian Volunteers from a prospective donor?
I would like to point out how their donation helps in 30 ministries across the country where LVs serve. Without the Lasallian Volunteers many of these ministries would not be able to stay open. At San Miguel, the after school activities heavily rely on the volunteers who spend time coaching and transporting students to and from games. Additionally, I feel the LV program helps develop well trained, passionate teachers who believe in the Lasallian mission.

Mark Barry and the San Miguel Dragons!