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Joseph Gentilini
Hi David and Michael McL -
I enjoyed reading your stories your told and continue to tell. Keep sharing them.
Dave, thank you for your service to this country. Obviously, you did a good job, faced many obstacles, saw horrible scenes, etc., and did it well. Thanks. I think I would have had a nervous breakdown if I had actually been drafted. For my sake (and the country's), I had a high draft number.
Michael, thanks for your story about your mom and the influence she had on your career. If reminded me of how my parents influenced my career. I was taught that it is important to take notice of people if they were sad for whatever reason - have compassion on others. My family moved from the Hilltop to Arlington in the middle of 4th grade. It was in the 50s and I don't think I ever had any classes with Black or Asian persons. That would be an important aspect of the influence. i lived, I suppose, in a bubble. The only black person I met growing up was the maid we had help clean the house once a month or every two weeks. And yet, I learned to pay attention and be a bit more compassionate. I smile when I think I would watch the Miss America Show where each state would present a woman with desires of winner the crown. I would pick the person I thought was best and sometimes she won and sometimes she didn't. Whoever 'lost' -- the other 4 -- I would feel sad about her and thought about the disappointment the women felt. When I got into high school, I wanted to be a priest but that never happened. I applied in my senior year to the Franciscans but was denied because I was 'too sensitive, too submissive, and too sensitive.' Probably true at the time, but years later a Franciscan priest told me he knew who gave the 'tests' and these words were code words a psychologist used really meant he thought I was gay and denied admittance. It worked out OK, however, since I have my own vocation - being in my 44 year-old union with Leo is the way I am called to holiness. (I didn't intend to get into all of that!)
How it influenced my career. When I went to college, I wasn't good at languages, I couldn't see myself as a business man, I didn't think getting a degree in Religious Studies would do any good, etc. But psychology, social work, philosophy, and theology did interest me. The one that made the most sense to me was Social Welfare and that became my major. Ironicially I did minor in philosophy and theology. I taught one year at Watterson - Freshman year world history -- and knew I didn't want to do that! I knew that I needed to get into helping others for a career. By chance, a friend of mine suggested looking into Vocational Rehabilitation which I did. That became my career and both my major and my minors helped me. Helping others who are disabled get some training, college degree or certification in some trade, and then helping them to become employed if possible.
The very first assignment I had was in the Model City office of BVR at the corner of Bryden Road and Parsons Avenue - in the 70s most people in that area were poor, black persons and white persons. However, everyone in the office was black and most of the people in the building were black. I confronted my own prejudices. I am ashamed to admit that I thought black people worked doing janitorial services, etc. I learned that this stereotype was BS and I learned quickly to open my eyes and see reality. I grew as a person and a counselor. In order to be even better as a counselor, I got my master's degree and my doctorate.
I didn't intend to get into all of this - sorry! joe
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