By Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD   Here’s a true story which dramatically illustrates the importance of education and moral living. May it inspire our over 20 million students who have enrolled and begin a new school year. * * * Brothers Michael and Chris were both born in the early 1960s and grew up in a mostly black neighborhood in Richmond, California. Both boys were well behaved in school and brought home mostly A’s on their report cards all through grade school. * * * But coming from a working-class family with eight children, money was always tight, so the boys often had to go without. In fact, things were so tight that the two boys resorted to stealing. From the time they were five until they were well out of high school, the boys stole. * * * It was during high school that something happened which made Chris decide to change his behavior. At the end of his freshman year in high school, Chris had received three A’s and three F’s on his report card. Because the school only allowed three failures over four years, one more F and Chris would be kicked out. * * * That’s when he made up his mind to change. Years later Chris would recall that defining moment in his life with these words: “I sat outside my house at the beginning of that summer knowing that I was letting my chance slip away. One more F and I’d be just another high school dropout, hanging around the neighborhood. * * * Chris’ decision to change his behavior wasn’t an easy one. It took a lot of guts in choosing to leave his friends or excel in school. But that decision to change took him in an entirely different direction from his brother Michael. * * * Chris went on to graduate from high school ... from college, then from law school. For 15 years he worked as a Deputy District Attorney in Los Angeles, California, prosecuting murderers, drug dealers, gang members and crooked cops. Today Chris is better known as Christopher Darden, one of the lead prosecutors in the trial of the century, the O. J. Simpson trial! * * * What became of Michael, Christopher’s brother? After high school Michael joined the army and returned to his hometown shortly after his tour of duty. Back in Richmond, Michael continued his pattern of anti-social behavior – hustling in the streets and stealing to support himself and a growing drug habit. Michael Darden died at the age of 42 – from AIDS. * * * LESSON: Christopher Darden changed. He changed from being a criminal to prosecuting criminals. He changed from an underachiever ... to an honor student. * * * His brother Michael, on the other hand, was changed. He was changed by the code of the streets. He was changed by illegal drugs, and finally, he was changed by an insidious disease. Make your choice: Be a Christopher whom your family will be proud of? Or be a Michael who brought shame to his family? * * * THE LIGHTER SIDE. In a class of philosophy, the teacher expounds about a glass of water: “This is a glass of water. But is it a glass of water? And if it is a glass of water, why is it a glass of water?” He keeps on philosophizing that he eventually collapses of thirst! * * * Some drink from the Fountain of Knowledge; others only gargle. * * * HELP SEMINARIANS. It’s opening of classes in seminaries soon. Please help needy seminarians we’re supporting under “Adopt A Seminarian” scholarship program. You may chip in or sponsor a seminarian for one school year. For inquiries, e-mail: [email protected]. * * *

• RIP. FR. JOSE ‘SJ’ SAN JUAN, SVD, 75, died of heart attack on June 1.
• His remains lie in state at the Villa Cristo Rey Retirement House in Christ the King Seminary on E. Rodriguez Boulevard, Quezon City. Interment is set is set on June 6 after the 3 p.m. Mass.
• REQUIESCAT IN PACE.