Florida Catholic | A Mother’s Advice

A mother’s advice

Focus on school and always pray to God.

JEAN GONZALEZ | FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF

Published: 05.12.08

LAKELAND | Everyday before Gina Massillon takes her 18-year-old daughter, Cynthia, to school, the two get on their knees and pray together.

The ritual, cherished by both women, is done out of a deep love for God, their faith and each other.

“My faith is extremely important. My religion comes first. When we pray, we thank the Lord for waking us up. We ask for God’s guidance. My mother even asks God to guide her while she drives, because after we pray we’ll be in the car on the way to school,” said Cynthia, a senior at Archbishop Curley High School in Miami. “My religion is what has brought me this far. When all is said and done, the Lord has brought me this far and now I want to be able to do his work.”

Teaching her daughter the importance of prayers of thanksgiving is the greatest lesson this mother hopes to teach her daughter.

“God helped me (raise and support Cynthia) because it was only me and her,” Gina Massillon said.

The mother and daughter have been each other’s rock of support and love for all of Cynthia’s life. Come this fall, things will be different as Cynthia will leave for Boston to attend Brandeis University. Despite that her daughter will no longer be her daily prayer partner, Gina Massillon couldn’t be happier or more supportive of her.

“This is the best thing that could happen to her,” said the native of Haiti. “I always pray to God and ask to help me so I can support (Cynthia). And I tell her, wherever she goes, even if I am not there, I am always there for her. And so is God. I tell her to always pray to God and thank God and never forgot that.”

Cynthia’s accomplishments earned her an acceptance to the prestigious institution. They also garnered her one of 1,000 scholarships offered from the Gates Foundation. She was honored as a Gates Millennium Scholar – students who possess strong leadership, community service and academic achievements that distinguish them as leaders.

Thanks to the scholarship, Cynthia can attend any U.S. accredited college or university of her choice and the Gates Foundation will pick up whatever financial aid does not cover Cynthia’s schooling. The scholarship is renewable throughout the undergraduate career. Although Cynthia plans on studying law and political science, if she pursues graduate studies in the fields of computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or science, the scholarship will cover that schooling as well.

Cynthia said she wouldn’t have even ventured to fill in the paperwork for the scholarship had it not been for her school counselor at Archbishop Curley. Although she passed on the notion the first time it was suggested, the counselor persuaded Cynthia to take a shot. It was a push Cynthia is glad she received.

“I looked at (the application) online and it was a lot of work,” she recalled. “But I had started to apply for another scholarship and I didn’t finish it. So I thought, ‘I won’t let this opportunity pass.’”

Aside from a listing of her academic, athletic and extracurricular achievements (including community service) and two letters of recommendation, Cynthia had to complete essays on seven topics. One essay challenged applicants to talk about a personal life-changing experience. Cynthia’s life-changing event involved a friend to whom she had not spoken for two months.

Out of the blue, her friend called her, but Cynthia was unable to get to the phone in time. Cynthia called back, but there was no answer.

“I knew something was wrong. She always answers her phone,” Cynthia said. “I had this feeling in my gut and I felt like someone was telling me to keep calling, so I did.”

She kept calling her friend’s cellular number with no luck. Cynthia then continued to call her friend at her house phone. After the fifth time, her friend answered. Cynthia said her friend sounded really distressed.

“I told her I would come right over,” Cynthia said.

Her friend was distressed and was even contemplating suicide. She had witnessed the death of her brother and she felt like she couldn’t talk to anyone about her feelings. But she decided to reach out to Cynthia. The experience humbled the teen, who said her friend is now doing well. This gives Cynthia a feeling of relief, happiness and gratitude.

“I thank God she called and I thank God she answered that phone,” Cynthia said.

Another essay focused on a person who inspires Cynthia, and for her the choice was easy – her mother. Cynthia was born in Miami after her mother immigrated to the United States in 1985 when Baby Doc Duvalier was in control of Haiti.

“For my whole life it has been me and my mom. She doesn’t have much for herself, but she provides for me. There were many nights she would work to provide for me,” Cynthia said. “She worked two or three jobs at a time just to provide for my high school education. I want to let her know how much I appreciate her and what she’s done for me. As soon as I graduate college, whatever money I can make, I want to spoil her, even though she will probably say she doesn’t want anything.”

Having an active faith life is something her mother fosters and Cynthia cherishes. She teaches a pre-confirmation religious education class at her parish, St. James in Miami. And she said the community at the parish supports Cynthia and her family, especially Father Jean Pierre, pastor, and Sister Kathleen Carr, who serves as principal of St. James School. Cynthia began her Catholic school career at St. James during her eighth-grade year.

“Thanks to the Sister Kathleen, I received a scholarship to attend Curley that first year,” Cynthia said. “I honestly thank her for it. I never heard of Curley until St. James, and I wouldn’t have this experience if I went to another school.”

Moving to Boston will be a culture shock for Cynthia, who said she is anxious about her new venture. One thing that does not unnerve Cynthia is being a Catholic student at a Jewish-sponsored university. Cynthia looks forward to learning about another faith and believes the experience will strengthen her faith, not steer her into another direction.

“I’m proud to be Catholic. I’ve been following Catholic teachings all my life and if I’m bombarded with challenges about my faith, I think that will only make my faith grow stronger.”

What will be tough is leaving Miami and it’s warm weather, and more importantly, her mother. Gina Massillon said she is thinking of trying to move to New York to be closer to her daughter. But even if that does not work out, she is very proud of her daughter. And Cynthia realizes that and cherishes that.

“My mother has always told me to do whatever is best for me,” Cynthia said. “I’m pretty sure she will miss me and I will miss her, but she is behind me 100 percent.”

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