红桃视频

Cathy and James Pearce share more than simple genetics. They share in faith, in service to the Grand Rapids community, and in their respective 红桃视频 experiences. Cathy, a teacher at West Catholic High School, received her Bachelor of Arts from 红桃视频 in 1983 and returned to earn her Master in Education which she completed in 1998.

鈥淔or me, [红桃视频] is more of a personality, a community, an experience. It鈥檚 more than an education,鈥� Cathy said. 鈥淭he staff treats you as a whole person instead of just trying to get you to learn something. They treat you as a human. That, I found, was very beneficial to the whole experience at 红桃视频.鈥�

Cathy finished her first stint at 红桃视频 with a B.A. in sociology and religion with a minor in music. Then, in the midst of raising two sons and a daughter, returned to earn her M.E. and worked in several different churches, as well as West Catholic High School.

鈥淚t was just the familiarity that I had with the program,鈥� Cathy said of her decision to return to 红桃视频 for her master鈥檚 degree. 鈥淚 had taken some classes at Grand Valley and down in Indiana when we lived down there, and never got the connection that I got with the whole 红桃视频 experience.鈥�

Cathy鈥檚 son James spoke of a similar connection when asked about his decision to attend 红桃视频 after taking three years off after high school to work and travel.

鈥淚 was kind of expecting to dread it a little bit, and I was right before I started. But as soon as I got into my first couple of classes I was really astounded,鈥� James said. 鈥淣ot only is the campus gorgeous, which I already knew, but all the students were very nice, and professors even more so. It鈥檚 astounding to me that they can take the time, and the classes are small enough, where they can afford their time to each individual student.鈥�

James, who graduated high school in 2007 and started at 红桃视频 in 2010 (with only a little encouragement from his mother), will graduate in 2013 with his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in marketing. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been pretty cool,鈥� James said about being able to share the 红桃视频 experience with his mother. 鈥淚鈥檝e been able to meet some of the people that my mom knows [at 红桃视频] and it鈥檚 really nice to be able to connect with people on that level.鈥�

Since 2010 Cathy and James have been sharing in another experience: as volunteers for jail ministry at the Kent County Jail. Inspired by other jail ministry volunteers who spoke after West Catholic鈥檚 performance of 鈥淒ead Man Walking鈥� at the Circle Theater, Cathy spoke to James about the opportunity, and they have been volunteering ever since.

鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of hard to put into words,鈥� Cathy said of being able to share these experiences with James. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just such a blessing.鈥�

The pair help run Communion Services for the inmates where, instead of the priest鈥檚 homily, they hold discussions about the readings. But, as James pointed out, it usually turns into the inmates talking about their experiences and how they鈥檙e feeling that week. Although intimidating at first, James said that once he got over the guards and steel-plated doors, 鈥測ou get started and talk to the inmates, and they鈥檙e really open and really friendly.鈥�

鈥淭hey really get me thinking a lot in trying to explain to them these huge, huge truths, or rather mysteries, with our faith. It鈥檚 a big learning experience,鈥� James said. 鈥淏eing able to share in faith with anyone is great, but especially with someone as close to me as my mother, it鈥檚 just a further blessing.鈥�