My Story/college

My Story - Jake Winfield

Jake Winfield - STLF Alum
University of Minnesota

April of 2008 changed my life. That month, my world was turned upside down when one of my most outgoing, happy and energetic friends attempted to take his own life. Thankfully he did not, but that is where my story begins. For the weeks that followed I was fighting my University’s Administration to let him continue being a normal student on campus. They refused, for reasons I still cannot understand. To say the least, my hope and belief in the Human race was at an all time low, I became a pessimist.

I stayed that way for a good solid month after our spring semester ended until a STLFer at John Carroll invited me to their summer retreat at John Carroll. I had nothing else to do that weekend so I made the three and a half hour drive, mostly just to see him. I had never been at any STLF event before, but I was welcomed without even being asked why Iwas there. During this weekend we became closer friends and through our service and reflection I realized that there was something in my life that had been missing recently – hope.

STLF provided that hope because they are a group of optimistic students who are changing the world through service work. Instantly I fell in love and the John Carroll Cores accepted my talents with open arms. I continued to be active in STLF, attending both the summer retreat and fall conference that followed, but to me STLF was nothing more than a bunch of crazy people who loved to have fun.

And then Came my First Tour!

Last week I finally had the opportunity to see STLF in action as I helped to lead the Blaine/Champlin High School Pay It Forward Tour out of the Minneapolis area. Being slightly nervous I got on the bus and what a trip it was! The group of students I spent the 5 days working with are some of the best people I have ever met in my life. Together we prepared a porch overhang for paint in Decorah, Iowa, put on a re-enactment of the Lion King at a Nursing home in Davenport, Iowa, cleaned a youth group’s room in Litchfield, Illinois and removed plants from public gardens in St. Louis. Not only was my small group amazing, but every person on that bus was a wonderful and positive individual. All 41 people who experienced this Pay It Forward Tour with me made STLF more than simply a series of conferences and packets – STLF became a living, beating, and loving organization.

Many STLFers say that STLF has changed their life and has allowed them to find their passion. STLF has changed my life – I do not know who I would be today if I had not attended that summer retreat at John Carroll. It is very likely that STLF has saved me from becoming a pessimistic drone for the rest of my life. I now have hope and believe that young people can and will change the world. The best part about all of this is that my first college tour is still to come in February 2010. I cannot wait to see what the future holds after I experience being a participant on a Pay It Forward Tour.

To those of you who have made STLF possible thank you, but thank you just is not enough to express my gratitude for what you have done for me and everyone else who has experienced the beauty of STLF. 

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