Persons of Interest! #2: Dennis Ho

(I actually don't have this hair now as we speak. I cut it a while back.)

This is Dennis, a Vietnamese-American from Rockford currently studying at UIC. Like many of my close friends, I can't quite remember the exact moment we met. However, we got to know each other pretty quickly from wherever that point was, creating a friendship which would spice things up at Newman quite a bit.

From my perspective, Dennis is dedicated and very hard-working. Having to come all the way here to Chicago from Rockford, and then staying over the summer to work for campus housing...that's commitment. His activity with Newman should be duly noted as well, with him having a very strong faith, which is expressed through his service to the community.

It's been a while since I've seen him, but I hope to see him again at Newman or wherever. It feels a bit boring without him around to do our signature handshake.

Dennis, if you're reading this..Sup, Ho.

Persons of Interest! #1: Katie Soprych

As I continue to journey on the adventure of a lifetime--pardon the cheese--I not only encounter places; I will often run into people that make significant impacts on my life and shape the path I walk.

Based on a series of Instagram/blog posts done by another good friend of mine (check out her blog sometime), I've decided to start a Persons of Interest series on The Mapping. It's only appropriate that I take note of my friends and fellow adventurers, as I cannot truly traverse alone.

Which leads us to the inaugural post of this series.

Meet Katie Soprych.

Photo creds: Christy Manaois

I met her a year or two ago at the St. John Paul II Newman Center. We sometimes chatted a bit at Newman, though we hadn't been that close back then. It was only until recently, when we traveled to Rome and Krakow, that we became very close friends, our friendship sealed by the many memories made during the trip to World Youth Day 2016.

Katie is quite the adventurer, not afraid to act on her curiosity. She is definitely willing to step outside of her comfort zone and try something new, an attribute which definitely could prove useful for her, as she has recently been undergoing student leader training from Evangelical Catholic. It brings out the best--and often the funniest--out of her, and she is very outgoing. She has an extremely open heart and can also maintain some very interesting conversations.

(In other news, she's planning on building a very extravagant house with all the landmarks she's seen in Rome.)

I'm very blessed to have gotten to know her during the trip, and I believe she herself will have quite a big adventure (and a big map to complement it).