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Jesuit Journeys
Fall 2000
A road less traveled
Nativity grads blaze trail of hope
E
ight years ago they didn't know what a Jesuit was. Just a few miles across an industrial valley from their South Side Milwaukee neighborhood, Marquette University High School, a model of Jesuit education for more than 140 years, was unknown to them. In May, however, Rigoberto Macias, Benjamin Padillo, and Juan Martin received their diplomas as members of Marquette's Class of 2000.
It was a day of firsts. They were the first in their families ever to graduate from high school and the first to be accepted to college. They were the first members of the Nativity Jesuit Middle School's inaugural class to graduate from a Jesuit Prep school. And they were the only members of their high school class to graduate with seven years of Jesuit education.
Opened in 1993 under the guidance of Fr. Bill Johnson, SJ, Nativity set out to make a difference on the South Side by plucking kidswith potential from tough streets in the hope of developing men for others - tomorrow's leaders in their communities and Church.
But even for kids with potential, the distance between Milwaukee's South Side and Marquette High is greater than the miles that separate them. Ben, Rigo, and Juan arrived at their new school in fall 1996 wondering if they would ever fit in.
"It was different from where we were at. At first it was overwhelming. I wasn't used to being surrounded by a white majority," says Ben, now an aspiring electrical engineer.
"We came from lower middle class families. Most of the others came from high income families," says Rigo, who also plans a career in engineering. "We didn't have a lot in common. At least it didn't seem that way at first. Sometimes they would go out and play golf. I've never played golf in my entire life."
Principal Greg Meuler knew they had more in common with their peers than they thought, but it would take time, patience, courage, and lots of support for them to realize that and succeed.
"It's the nature of the adolescent to not always see that other kids are in the same situation. He or she sees a sea of people and thinks 'I'm the only one who doesn't have any friends,'" Meuler says. "A lot of kids are feeling that way their freshman year. But I think it's even worse for a minority student, because the perception is all of these guys belong. And [monetarily] it looks like everybody has more."
Perhaps it helped Rigo and Ben that Juan was the third member of their academic trio. Though in most ways no less an adolescent than any other student, Juan, while plagued by admittedly erratic study habits, has a critical eye and an atypical sense of self-assurance that left him relatively unfazed by the socio-economic landscape at Marquette.
"I really didn't see any difference between us and them. I didn't care that they had money unless they flaunted it, because it's not like they did anything to earn it themselves," says Juan, who is deciding between a career in law, psychology, or criminology. "They stood in the same lunch line as me and did everything the same ways as me."
He tried out for sports teams, liked joining clubs, and was manager of the basketball team. He even tried golf.
All three praised Marty Hosking, SJ, a Jesuit scholastic during their Nativity years, for helping them establish a foundation for personal success in Marquette High's rigorous educational environment.
"He was one of the best teachers I ever had. He was like a big brother. He'd take us to movies, bowling, talk to us. He helped us a lot," Ben says.
"If it wasn't for Mr. Hosking, I couldn't have made the transition to Nativity and then Marquette High," Rigo says.
At Marquette, Jim Wilkinson, stepped in where Hosking left off, urging the Hispanic students to do well academically and become socially involved in the school. He helped them form Orgullo Latino (Latin Pride), an organization that, among other things, stages food drives and plans dances that feature multi-cultural music. Profits from all events go into a school fund to help the 20% of Marquette's students who are on some form of financial aid pay for books.
"We try to make coming to school easier for them, because we know what it's like," Ben says.
As tough as the struggle was for academic success, no one could anticipate that at Christmas break of his senior year Rigo would face another  challenge in which he'd be fighting not for good grades and a bright future, but for his life. Short of breath, veins in his arms bulging, and with a large lump growing on his young body, Rigo went to a doctor for answers and was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease.
Ben gave up a coveted ticket to a Milwaukee Bucks basketball game to rush to his friend's side. Juan, whose family has a history of cancer deaths, set up camp at the hospital and almost had to be dragged home.
Rigo was scared and his friends were scared for him. And if facing cancer weren't tough enough, Rigo had the added pressure of being responsible to work and pay the rent on his family's apartment. He underwent chemotherapy, but is humble about the courage with which he faced his cancer.
"It's like jumping off a burning building into a safety net way below. You do it because you have no choice," he says.
Marquette High worked with him to stay on track for graduation. Nativity stepped in and helped pay the rent while he couldn't work.  The outpouring of support from students at Marquette High and their warm welcome when he returned toschool also lifted his spirits. Today, his prospects for a full recovery are good.
Fr. Johnson, Nativity president, and Larry Siewert, the school's first principal and currently director of graduates, attended the May commencement ceremony at Marquette High. Both are proud of their inaugural class and the three who went on to attend Marquette.
"You could just see this was a big breakthrough for them and their families. It was a proud moment for them, their parents, and our school," Siewert says.
"They've taken the first two steps by graduating from Nativity and Marquette High. Now I'm looking for them to take the third step and pop out that pipeline on the other side of college and do good things for their community and Church," Fr. Johnson says.
Rigo, Ben, and Juan all plan to work hard for continued success, and, though they can't predict how or when, or whether by example or other means, they intend to help others as they were helped.
Until then, their advice for other Nativity students is simple: the path to fulfilling your potential and realizing your dreams is cleared by listening well, working hard, and taking pride in what you do to reach your goals.
For more information about Nativity Jesuit Middle School, call: 414-645-7624. Or write:
1115 S. 7th St., Milwaukee, WI 53204-2329
For information about Marquette University High School, call: 414-933-7220. Or write: 3401 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53208-3896
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