Interview with Sr. Therese Marie Yank
What do you do?
I recently began teaching middle school math and religion at a local parish school. I enjoy it! Ever since I was in middle school, I have had the desire to teach.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR TASK?
Helping others grow in knowledge and understanding gives me joy. For example, it’s nice to see a student master a challenging math problem after we’ve struggled through it together.
HOW DO YOU THINK THAT WHAT YOU DO MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD?
God doesn’t necessarily let us see right away how we are making a difference in the world. Sometimes that’s only for him to know! Yet even when we cannot see anything different from day to day in the world around us, we have to continuously work on changing the world within us. Only when we allow God to make a difference in the world within us, can he use us to make a difference in the world around us!
IS THERE A PARTICULAR QUOTE THAT INSPIRES YOU IN YOUR TASK?
One of my favorite quotes (sometimes attributed to the founder of Schoenstatt, and sometimes to Sr. M. Emilie, one of our first sisters) is:
“If God is all love and manifests his love through others, giving us so much love through them, then this means that we, too, have to be all love, everything out of love, through love, and for love!”
Our world needs genuine, pure, selfless love. On our own, we are incapable of giving it, but if we open ourselves to God, he will pour this love into us and it will overflow to those around us. We can do this no matter what exterior work we have.
When we say yes to God – who is all love – and allow him to lead, he takes care of us in unbelievable ways. At times, he even spoils us! At other times, he can demand a lot of trust and perseverance… but it’s just like trying to solve a difficult math problem: you know there is an answer and you don’t give up until you find it!
Better than the best of teachers, God is ever beside us, not necessarily giving us the answers, but helping us discover the steps we need to take.