Fostering a Culture of Encounter through Systems Thinking

My Corpus Christi College Story Heading to Oxford, UK

By Jessica Sangalang, Circle of Fellows Scholarship 2-Year Student

I began my post-secondary year thinking up one word that would set the tone for the year ahead. Inspired by Pope Francis’ call for a ‘culture of encounter’, I settled on the word encounter. Little did I know that this one word would have me halfway across the world, representing Corpus Christi – St. Mark’s College on stage at Oxford, for the Map the System Global Finals. 

Working with a remarkable team of students — Renai Jose (Little Flower Academy alumna), Anthony De Lazzari (fellow St. Thomas More Collegiate alumni), Sawyer Drummond (Vancouver College alumnus), and Samrath Gill (John Oliver School alumnus)—our project, Beyond the Bedside, investigated British Columbia’s nursing shortage and sought to recognize the efforts of countless nurses in our province who work tirelessly to care for our loved ones. We are grateful for mentors such as Father Rob Allore (Pastor of St. Mark’s Parish at UBC Campus), and the insights shared in interviews with healthcare professionals across BC and in the UK.

In May, we competed in the Canadian finals and received the Audience Favourite Award. We donated our prize moneyto the Registered Nurses Foundation of BC to support continuing education for nurses.  We were also awarded Top 4 and chosen to represent Canada at the global finals. 

In July, on the campus of Saïd Business School in Oxford we present our project. We were honoured to received the Undergraduate Excellence Award and designated as one of the Top 17 teamsfrom over 1,000 teams participating.

This trip was a once in a lifetime experience.  It was transformative for me, academically, personally, and spiritually as I was challenged and stretched to new limits while discovering new dreams. Amidst it all, I found home through daily morning mass on campus, visiting the Oxford Oratory Church of St. Aloysius Gonzaga and the quaint parish of the Greyfriars of St. Edmund & St. Frideswide throughout the week.

Reflecting on this experience, I discovered that the “learning-first approach of systems thinking” demands humility and lifelong learning, similar to Pope Francis’ call for a culture of encounter. Listening to the realities of people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives promotes understanding, empathy, and collaboration in pursuit of the common good.

I am so glad for the culture of learning at the Corpus Christi – St. Mark’s College, where faith and reason work hand-in-hand.  It has been foundational in my academic journey and to my understanding of the world.

It’s now my dream to return to Oxford to pursue my graduate studies. Corpus Christi-St. Mark’s College brings me one step closer to that dream, nurturing lifelong learners and empowering me as a leader to make change in my community. I encourage those who are thinking of post-secondary education to consider the Colleges, so you too can encounter the world.     

If you know of anyone in high school who wants to develop as a leader, is committed to service, and wants to make a difference in the world, they should apply for the Circle of Fellow Scholarship that gives students up to 2 years of tuition with mentorship and leadership opportunities. Read more about the Circle of Fellows program.

This story appeared on Jan 1, 2024 edition of the BC Catholic.