Second semester is a frightening time for seniors who have jobs lined up and anticipate the shock of entering the real world.
However, the final days of college are all the more terrifying when a student has no plans for life after graduation, which was the situation Marco Ambrosio ’07 found himself in last spring.
Ambrosio, a deeply involved member of Face AIDS and FUSA, was initially in a panic because he had no job and no plans after graduation. But after glancing down at a theology book on the floor of his car, the idea came to him to travel the world and write a book about the AIDS struggle.
“When you’re a senior there’s so much pressure on you. [You] don’t have to have a concrete plan; you can do so much,” said Ambrosio, who is currently in Bangkok, Thailand.
In his book, he will include experiences from San Francisco, Calif; Newark, N.J.; Mumbai, India; Leon, Nicaragua; Ukraine; and South Africa.
Ambrosio said he hopes the book, which will “highlight several key facets about HIV/AIDS through a lens that focuses on social justice,” will be published by next year. He began traveling in November 2007 and is collecting material for his currently untitled book by volunteering for up to three weeks at all locations and interviewing the heads of the respective organizations, as well as three people suffering from AIDS.
Ambrosio said his project would have been absolutely impossible without the support of Fr. Richard Ryscavage, S.J.; Renee White; and Fr. Michael Doody, S.J., as well as Jesuit contacts around the world. Ryscavage and White served as Ambrosio’s advisors.
“I see him as a model for other Fairfield students,” said Ryscavage. “Instead of going to medical school right after graduation, he decided to take a more creative route. More students should consider exploring such creative and socially responsible ways of spending the year after graduation.”
White said, “When Marco first mentioned his book idea, I was very surprised and impressed that he would be willing to enter into such a hard project. For most college students, the prospect of writing a book isn’t on their “to do” lists! But, given his drive and passion I knew he would be one of those few who couldn’t be swayed from setting such a vision (slightly crazy, yet, but so exciting).”
Communication is one of Ambrosio’s greatest challenges, he said, especially when comforting patients in the hospice in Thailand where, as he wrote in his blog, “I had to think of other ways to say, ‘I am here,’ or ‘You are not alone.'”
At a lunch with members of Project Open Hand in San Francisco, Ambrosio spoke with three men who had lost their partners to AIDS.
According to Ambrosio’s blog, “One [man] recalled the plight of his partner and simply stated, ‘I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.’ They then recounted how being a caregiver consumed their lives as their partners worsened.”
This “very sensitive and private information” divulged during interviews is very important, White told Ambrosio after previewing his interview questions.
“I think he realizes that while writing and publishing is the end goal, the accumulation of experiences along the way are rewarding on their own,” White said. “I think it is absolutely extraordinary how much Marco has done in much less than a year since he graduated from Fairfield. He has held a very successful fundraise, made contacts all over the globe, devised his interview strategy and is on his way,” she said. “I am so very proud of him and think he is an inspiration to all of us. You really can live your passion.”
“I admire Marco’s persistence and drive,” Ryscavage said. “He threw himself into this book project and I think he will look back on the experience as one of the great highlights of his post-Fairfield life.”
Despite the advantages of his pursuit, Ambrosio said that dealing with people who have AIDS is extremely daunting and being alone in other countries is difficult.
“[It] really helped that I had professors at Fairfield who could work with me,” he said.
“The tough thing is that these people won’t be here in a month,” said Ambrosio, who is alone in his travels, faces language barriers almost everywhere and encounters people suffering from one of the most widespread, terrible diseases.
Despite the difficulties, Ambrosio continues to be successful in his achievements.
“I got my camera and my trusty backpack from my Fairfield days,” said Ambrosio. “Enjoy yourself because life changes when Fairfield’s gone.”
Check out Ambrosio’s blog at regionalhiv.blogspot.com
Read more about the Emily Specchio foundation that Ambrosio works with by clicking here.
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