USD President's Report 1989

" So then Ijust stayed quiet and I thought, 'What do I do, what do I do?' But I realize so much more now it's not what you do, it's just being there. And then she started sharing with me all her past experiences." If Martinez speaks with wisdom beyond her 21 years about being there for others, it's because she's been active in church and school groups since she was a youngster. Serving others, she points out, is an attitude she learned from the example set by her parents. " It's not something my parents made us do. I saw that helping someone else also gives you a good feeling, like you've "Something the bishop said has stuck with me ... if you want to help people you've got to know them; you've got to get your feet dirty; you've got to get involved." -Rosario Martinez achieved something. It makes me feel like I'm doing better, like I'm growing." Martinez credits San Diego Bishop Leo Maher, who appointed her youth repre- sentative for the San Diego Diocesan Pastoral Council when she was 19, with also shaping her perspective about service. "Something the bishop said has stuck with me, and that is, if you want to help people you've got to know them; you've got to get your feet dirty; you've got to get involved. " I think I've been lucky. I'm discover-

T H E

CHEERLEADER F O R

L l F E

S he loves life. The message radiates from her sparkling eyes before she opens her mouth to speak. It echoes in her easy, heartfelt laugh . She demonstrates her sentiments by serving as a counselor to pregnant girls at the downtown Catholic Charities' Maternal, Infant and Adoption Services. Ajunior psychology major and a cheerleader at USO, she says sharing her gifts in service to others is a guiding principle in her life.

You read all this in the newspaper, but it's different when you're actually there." Martinez says she better understands basic human needs because of her counsel- ing experiences. She recalls driving to Mercy Hospital one afternoon during rush hour with a 17-year-old girl who appeared to be suffering a miscarriage. While they waited nervously at the hospital for the doctor, Martinez ran out of comforting words.

Rosario Martinez speaks rapidly, her words accented by emotion, as she recounts how her views about the equitableness of life were pierced as she became the confi- dant of pregnant teenagers. " I learned more about life. Like why don't we have more housing, why don't we have child care, why doesn't the county provide something better, why are we having all these problems with sexual abuse?

VIII