HOME AWAY FROM HOME

On Thursday, February 24, 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine created a global crisis not seen for generations. Countless lives have been lost, families separated, and the future of many Ukrainian students has been put on hold.

The Chaminade Residency Program is proud to be the home of five Ukrainian students this year and provide them with the opportunity to continue their education in a safe and stable environment. Junior Rafail Revutskyi is one of those students and recently reflected on what Chaminade has meant to him and his Ukrainian classmates.

Nearly a year ago, the war in Ukraine broke my dreams – or at least so I thought. When I left Ukraine, my journey to find myself in a big and different world started; a world where being a human being and a citizen is at the center.

When my family first contacted Chaminade about possibly continuing my academic career here, we were deeply touched by the attention and request that our request received. We were truly supported throughout the entire admissions process. Words cannot express how it felt to know that someone 5,000 miles away cared about me and was willing to help rebuild my dreams and my future.

From my very first day on campus, Chaminade proved it does more than provide a high-quality learning environment, it has a set of core values that are dear to every student and teacher. My fellow classmates and even my senior leaders made me feel comfortable and safe. And I realized that this is part of the Chaminade spirit too.

Since then, many more discoveries have followed, like understanding what critical thinking is, learning about the foundation of American values and spirit, and even learning the sport of American football from my new teammates and coaches. I owe all of these things and more to my amazing teachers. Everyone at Chaminade makes me feel excited about what future semesters will bring. I feel that I am on a steep learning curve both academically and spiritually, and this makes me look forward even more.

It is said that America is a country of the brave, but my being at Chaminade has taught me that this is also a country of generous, warm-hearted people who provide me with support and help me shape my future every day. I hope to be able to pay back your kindness one day as Chaminade has become a home away from home for me.

Thank you all for your support.

Rafail Revutskyi ’24