Mallory Hammond
The People of Faith feature is compiled by Steve Halbig, who asks a series of questions of people of the diocese – some who have reached the “age of wisdom” and some who are younger. All will share stories of faith.
Memorial senior says ‘being yourself’ is what counts
This month’s People of Faith is another in a series focusing on teenagers. Mallory Hammond, a senior at Reitz Memorial High School, Evansville, plans to study speech pathology at Indiana State University. Her advice to other teens: “Be yourself.”
Who or what has been the biggest influence in your life?
The biggest influences in my life have been my parents. Both my mother and father are strong individuals who work hard every day. They help me to have faith and keep going every day. My mom is independent and loving. My dad is more of a free spirit and is very caring. I like to think I have a blend of these qualities because of my parents’ guidance.
What’s the best/worst thing about being a teenager?
While being a teenager can be great, it can also have its downsides. The best and worst things about being a teenager are often the same or very similar. As a teenager, you have the power to determine who you want to become. You can meet new people and try new things. You can form your own ideas. Unfortunately this is also a negative. While one is trying to form his or her self, so is everyone else. Teenagers have the almost magic ability to influence one another. The real trick, though, is to create your own person with your own values and beliefs while everyone else creates their own as well.
How often do you attend Mass?
I try to attend Mass once a week. It can be difficult with all the activities I have going on, though. I recently became a Eucharistic minister, so I am really trying to put Mass first.
Describe how your faith helped you through a difficult time in your life
Last year my grandpa passed away. It was extremely tough on my family, especially my dad. It’s always a challenge on your faith when someone passes away. I had to remind myself that God does have a plan, whether we know it or not. I prayed often and knew that God was with my family. Although my faith was shaken, it was one of the only things during that time period that I knew was safe to lean on.
If you could make one change in your community, what would it be?
I would like to see the revival of the downtown area. The local leaders are working on a new hotel and other improvements downtown, and in the long run I hope these are positives for the city of Evansville. Downtown has the potential to be better, so I hope our community comes together and unlocks it.
Any regrets yet in life?
I don’t have any regrets in life. I see any mistakes or hardships I have been through as growing opportunities. We should not regret the past. We should only learn from it.
More about me
I am 17 and am still learning every day. I love to be outside and just relax. I consider myself rather independent, but I do love to be social and interact with people as well. I’m very involved in school whether it’s academically or outside the classroom. I am a manager for the girls’ soccer team and I am a chairman for Memorial’s Key Club. I have a Little Sister named Ashlyn through Big Brothers Big Sisters. She helps me see firsthand how difficult the lives of some others really are. Being with her helps me feel as though I truly do have a purpose even in my young age. I can make a difference in her life, and that is a great feeling. When I am not at school or in a club meeting or with Ashlyn, you will probably find me working at St. Ben’s afterschool. I love to work with kids, and I’m anxious to continue this as I move on into college and into the professional world.
What do you do in your spiritual life that you would recommend to others?
I am now a Eucharistic minister, and that is a great way to be involved in the Mass. I really do feel the presence of Christ in the bread and wine. I would also recommend praying every day at least twice a day. When I really engage in prayer and take a step back from the hustle and bustle of life, it is very rewarding.
What is your best wisdom of life?
My best wisdom of life is to be who you are. Although I am only 17, I feel older. Luckily I learned at a younger age than many that it’s better to be yourself rather than pretend to be someone whom you are not. If you are yourself, you can be comfortable. You cannot please everyone. If you are really being you, though, you will know that people like you for whom you are, not who you are pretending to be. I think many teenagers struggle with this. Some spend all their time trying to be someone else, so they lose themselves along the way. There is only one me, and there is only one you. We should all embrace this idea.
