For Xavier alum, attending the school was "the best decision of my life"

I am James A. Paschal, president of the Xavier University of Louisiana National Alumni Association and I would like to tell you my story.

I grew up in Americus. In 1948, I graduated with honors from Staley High School and received a scholarship to attend Fort Valley State. I attended that state institution for a half year.

A fellow student approached me with the Xavier Bulletin and said, "You should be there!"

I wrote for an application, filled it out and mailed it to Xavier.

Wow! I was accepted.

I had a brother at Morehouse and two sisters attending Fort Valley with me.

When it was time for me to go to Xavier, I asked my father and he said "No."

My dear mother called me into the kitchen and gave me the money to attend Xavier.

I arrived on campus in the fall of 1950. I was drafted into military service on Sept. 27, 1951 and discharged on June 27, 1953.  I immediately re-enrolled at Xavier in August of 1953.

After spending a couple of months on the campus, I reflected and came to the conclusion that this was the best decision of my life.

Some 60 years later, I still say, it was the best decision of my life.

My family was Baptist and I became a Catholic immediately after high school.

So in a sense, I did not pick Xavier.  It seems to have been 'Divine Intervention' that led to my going to Xavier. I am sure other alums will agree that Xavier was a very, very good choice.

What was my experience like on campus?

Let me say, I had been on several campuses as a student. None beat my experience at Xavier.  The faculty was like family with superb instructors. My fellow students motivated me.

There was a chapel on campus for church services, so I did not have to travel into the city. I had choices as classes were interesting and challenging and the atmosphere created a climate for learning.

There were Greek organizations and a variety of sports and extra-curricular activities for participating.

We had students from everywhere. They were smart and I had to work up a sweat to keep up with them.

Because of one instructor, Dr. Bertha Magruder, I became interested in off-campus activities such as going out to the sugar cane plantations and encouraging the workers to strike for a dollar per hour, and assisting young kids in St. Phillip's Parish on how to do art work and apply their skills in school.

My biggest off-campus treat came when I went to Washington, D.C. to work for two summers as a volunteer with the House of Hospitality, an inner city organization that worked with the unemployed and individuals on the street to recover to a life of dignity and worth.

This is one of many good things that helped to enrich my life. Xavier helped re-direct my thinking toward those who are less fortunate. As a matter of fact, my inside activities at Xavier, as well as my outside activities, helped to mold me into the Christian being I am today.

My experiences led me to attend a Franciscan Seminary in New York State.

What did I take away from Xavier?

I changed major a couple of times.

I wanted to help people in so many ways.

Xavier gave me the knowledge, insight, determination that I can do, and am capable of doing, whatever I wanted to do in life. After graduating from Xavier, I received a masters of science degree and a doctor of education degree.

I worked for 46 years as an elementary school teacher, librarian, counselor, student personnel director, coordinator for facilities for the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, and director of the college counseling program at Albany State University.

After retirement I ran a pro bono counseling center for eight years for individuals who could not afford therapy.

What keeps me involved with the University? 

There is a need for a university like Xavier, where you are a person and student, not a number. I was a number in graduate school where instructors did not call your name.

As a Catholic university, Xavier has a bigger role to play in today's world. People of color need a good, sound education that will enable them to go anyplace in this universe and enjoy a good life.

Xavier plays a role that anyone can enter, study hard and graduate with a degree that will help them continue life in a humane way.

Xavier is committed to access and equity in admitting students and achieving diversity in our undergraduate and graduate student populations.

We need to support our Alma Mater, not just talk, because the institution needs financial support to survive.

This is what keeps me involved. We need all alums to join in to help keep Xavier strong. It is my love for my Alma Mater.