Cheryl Dust Sullivan ‘98

I remember how exciting it was when I learned I was accepted into Cor Jesu, but also how worried I was because I had no idea how my family would afford the tuition for four years. Being the fifth born in a family with seven kids, there was certainly not a lot of extra money. I knew my going to Cor Jesu would cause a financial strain for my parents. I was so relieved when I learned tuition assistance was available to help alieviate some of the strain.

As an adult, I have chosen to be a part of the Heart-to-Heart Society so I can give back and help other CJA students financially. I am not in a financial position to give a lot, but I give what I can and I give every month. I know that what I donate and what others donate combines to have great impact on current and future students.

I learned so many wonderful lessons at Cor Jesu, some of the most important being to always have faith that I can do anything through God who strengthens me, to lend a helping hand to those in need, and to dedicate myself to only a couple activities at any given time so I can fulfill my responsibilities whole-heartedly. These lessons have impacted my life so much and have helped me become the person, wife, mother, daughter, sibling, friend and nurse I am today.

Without the faith that I can do anything through God who strengthens me, I wouldn’t be who I am and where I am today. So many times in my life I just wanted to say, “I give up,” but then His comforting and supportive presence, often experienced through the kindness, compassion and encouragement of others, gave me the strength to keep on keeping on.

Lending a helping hand to others is what makes this world a better place, and more people doing their part means a better place for future generations. I teach this lesson to my two daughters through my actions and encourage them to do the same when opportunities arise. Had this lesson not been so internalized during my formative years (thanks to my parents, CJA faculty and staff, and other important adults in my life) I wouldn’t feel as confident as I do sharing this lesson with my daughters.

I remember Sr. Sheila O’Neill, ASCJ telling the students the importance of choosing only a couple activities at any given time so we can dedicate the time and effort needed to fulfill the responsibilities required for the activities and so we can do those activities to the best of our abilities. To this day, I still make decisions with that lesson in mind. It’s better to do a couple things well than to stretch myself too thin and risk not fulfilling agreed upon expectations and letting down those who are depending on me. Sure, like most people, I have some fear of missing out when I decide an activity does not rise to the top of my life’s priority list. In my opinion, what’s worse than missing out are the consequences of stretching myself too thin and experiencing the negative impacts of a life that is way too busy and stressful. I am trying to share this lesson with my daughters on a regular basis because I recognize how important it was for me to learn it.

When I think of these three lessons, among so many others, that my Cor Jesu education instilled in me, how could I not give back and help give others the chance to learn such amazing and lifechanging lessons? Well, that is one of the easiest questions I can answer. As long as I have the means, I choose to give.