Each year, the Daughters of Charity at the UN welcome interns. We were very happy this year to have with us Frank Morales-Hernandez, from St. John’s University. Frank has now graduated from St. John’s and completed his internship. The following is an insight into his experience at the UN.
It is very difficult to identify highlights in something that has seemed like a continual highlight in itself. For eight months, interning with the Daughters of Charity has constantly given me good experiences that have made it difficult for me to summarize. However, something I can describe is how this experience has changed me as an individual. This change has been reflective of the change that the U.N and the different accredited NGOs are seeking to create. Although a daunting task, they have taken the responsibility of creating the change that can’t always be seen and sometimes can’t be measured, but nevertheless, creating this change.
Regardless of the barriers and limitations, the U.N and accredited NGOs have fought and will continue to fight a battle that will probably not be over for many years to come. Regardless of the accolades and credit available to those of the noblest hearts, they will quietly continue to seek justice for the sake of justice and never for the rewards that can be attained as a result of it. Regardless of the sacrifice needed to attain their goals, they will continue to give until there is nothing left to be given. Peace, justice, and equality are all things that are inherently good. Nevertheless, the process to achieve these things have proven to be tiresome, painful, and tedious.
Working with the Vincentian family has allowed me to learn about this process first-hand. Even though my experience has been good, it has been difficult on several occasions and in different ways. However, difficulty does not always equate to bad. In retrospect, difficulty has always equated to a feeling of fulfillment and reward. I am a firm believer that if the road to peace, equality, and justice was an easy one, my experience would not have been as fulfilling and rewarding as it proved to be. This feeling of fulfillment and reward is something that has manifested in me after the completion of my interning experience.
Externally speaking, everything has remained the same. The office looks the same, the same problems exist, and the same barriers will continue to hinder our work. But the U.N isn’t about creating change that can be seen immediately or obviously. It is about creating the institutional change that will reap results for generations to come, even if the current generation doesn’t benefit directly. It is possible that in my time at the U.N I was unable to directly influence anyone into creating this change. However, during my term I have experienced what it’s like to fight an uphill battle and focus on the small victories that can eventually create a big change.
Even though this particular philosophy can be applied specifically to my work at the U.N, I believe that the experience of fighting an uphill battle has allowed me to take a very specific approach on any future challenges I may face. Any future challenges, whether professional or personal, will be met with courage, persistence, and patience; all of which are skills that were acquired while working with the Daughters of Charity at the U.N. This is the change that the U.N and accredited NGOs seek to create in the world. That all goals that point to a better world can be met by having the courage to face them, being persistent in our approach, and having the patience to try and try again.
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