“It’s fulfilling, knowing that I am, in a small way, making a difference in someone’s life…” said Quinn Apprill-Sokol, a grade 12 student from St Louis University High School in the U.S. visiting Taiwan for a service program in January.

Quinn arrived in Taiwan on 1 Jan and embarked on his 148-hours program servicing at two day care centres for the elderly in Yilan and Hsinchu respectively. When he recalled this experience, he cited two experiences that impressed him most.

At the centre in Yilan, he and his classmate taught the aunties and uncles there how to make paper airplanes and shot to see whose flew the farthest. “They were like kids, very happy. It was just lovely to see the grannies having so much fun,” said Quinn.

At Hsinchu Catholic Social Service Centre, a granny (who doesn’t know English) often said “thank you” to Quinn in English. A couple of simple words like these touched his heart as it took on a cross-cultural dimension loaded with respect and gratitude.

Raised in a Catholic family, parents working at St Louis University, mom volunteers at a food kitchen, Quinn has always been immersed in the idea of servicing and helping the elderly, the disabled, the less fortunate and the marginalized. He added, “As a Catholic, as a Jesuit student, and as a person in general, I want to be a ‘man for others’, helping those who might have been forgotten by the society, knowing that I have not forgotten them.”

Looking into the future, Quinn said he would like to go into politics, political science or advocacy. If he was to call for the establishment of certain legislations, he said he would pull from these service experiences to provide a solid answer to this question“why I am doing what I am doing as a person”.

At the age of only 17, Quinn is actively involved in interest clubs related to the subject of U.S.-Mexican border, immigration and death penalty issues.

Quinn admitted that he might not be in Taiwan servicing, nor would he be that passionate for government and politics if not for the Catholic faith and values. It is this faith that has formed him to be compassionate, helpful, respectful, understanding and less judgemental.

In closing, Quinn said, “I do love where I am right now. I love how compassionate I can be, how disciplined I can be, and I love the values that have been imparted on me. I love how the Jesuit school and the Catholic faith have shaped me to be a better person.” At times, he also felt the calling to be a priest but that would need further discernment.

Post-interview note: Quinn has actually got a Chinese name 安書清. It was given by his teacher when he began taking up Chinese lessons since grade 9.

Written by Anna Mok

Photo by Quinn Apprill-Sokol & Anna Mok