“On most days, if I'm true to myself, I just want to share my life with the poor, regardless of result. I want to lean into the challenge of intractable problems with as tender a heart as I can locate, knowing that there is some divine ingenuity here, "the slow work of God," that gets done if we're faithful.”
Father Greg Boyle, S.J. Tattoos on the Heart
Jill Baranowski is a Special Ed teacher working with young kids. I almost smiling so hard that noise is coming out of my mouth. I cannot think of anything better for those young ones. I have seen Jill "lean into the challenge of intractable problems" with her tender heart, her smile, and of course, her dimples. I cannot imagine what it must feel like for a 6 year old to be frustrated with the world, frustrated with school, having to deal with learning problems, and at the end of this tunnel of frustration is the light of Miss Jill's smile approaching every problem with that tender heart of hers.
I love my students who are nurse or lawyers or salesman, but my students who are teachers who I saw grow up through school -- c'est magnifique !! I saw that thing in Jill which she may not have seen in herself, early in her freshmen year. (But to be honest, Jill is so wonderfully nonchalant in her world, I think she knew she could accomplish anything). Jill could not dribble a basketball or really shoot a basketball, but I knew I wanted her on the sophomore team as a freshmen, because I knew she would never stop hustling and I knew she would be a wonderful teammate.
Of course, Jill was a Biloxi kid. Share Kindness is part of her every day life and she does it with everybody. I do know that Jill opened up the trip when she went back as a college student and introduced us to her wonderful friends, Colleen and Emi. And more importantly, introduced Biloxi and Back Bay Mission to her friends. It was the first year for Cor Jesu students and we had Chaley Poth and Laura Milles and Allison and Ellie and many more good ones, but it was Jill talking to her Mizzou friends that really made this trip. Colleen Barry heard Jill talking and said I want to go on that trip. Jill understands me and the way the Magee brain works, she instantly said, "Then you are going," to her roommates. Sometimes it is that simple. Or it should be that simple and we lose out when we make things too complicated. I know Chaley Poth was over the moon when her friend and mentor was going to be on the Biloxi trip. Today, Jill Baranowski sat in the same seat that Laura Milles did. It was intentional on my part. I will take Jill and Laura, you get the rest of the world and we will beat you in most sports and just having more fun.
This year, I went back to Nerinx twice for the first times since 2011. On the day of the Memorial Service for Kevin Budd, I walked down the hall and took a picture of my Senior homeroom, E2. I think homeroom was only like 12 minutes long, but my Senior homerooms over the years were some of my fondest memories of teaching. It just seemed like we always had a great bunch of students and we were instant friends and instant community. This is what community looks like. In the beginning they liked me for two things: (1) the announcements came on 80 decibels too loud in that room, so when they heard the first crack on the mike, they would holler and I would grab the sweatshirt we had on the shelf and I was tall enough to hold it over the speaker, so we could hear the announcements without our ears bleeding. and (2) they were doughnuts left over every other Tuesday. It was in this homeroom of heroes and superstars where Jill Baranowski stood out. She was always ready to do something for someone or be our homeroom rep (really just more work) for a special cause. I would say, "I need someone" and I would not even finish someone and Jill would be out the door, ready to help. Smiling all the way.
Only in St. Louis, would Jill Baranowski know my Aunt Carol (Breakfast 7) and Melanie Allsup (Breakfast 44), but then again maybe it should always be, that those three that make their little corners of St. Louis a better place, be best friends. I like that story better. Jill was one of the fastest athletes I ever coached. Her running up the basketball court to steal a pass sometimes looked effortless. That is they way she lives her life making kindness and hard work look effortless.
Senior Retreat is like Senior Homeroom times 100. I probably will never experience the love and joy in anything I do as much as I did those Senior Retreats with 130 incredible young women. On Jill's Senior Retreat, we were saying good bye and 4 or 5 buses were loading up. Jill did not get on the bus, instead she had already arranged that I would drive her to Marian Middle School so she could coach basketball for 12 little 6th grade girls. She knew she needed to be there and knew I would drive her there. I walked into the gym with her and she introduced me to every one of her players. Each of the players greeted her with a big smile and often a hug.
Dry your eyes my little friend
Let me take you by the handFreddie get ready (Jump) steady
When Jilly strikes up the band borrowed from Warren Zevon
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