A Call to Serve

By: Rachel Smith, NDMV Social Media Intern

Resiliency, discipline, and humility would be the book title for Brandon Arevalo's life if he were to describe it as a book. These three principles have been essential keys in Brandon’s life and his journey with NDMV.

Growing up catholic, Brandon had a spiritual experience that changed his life for the better. He knew he felt called to serve others, but he didn’t know all of what that would look like for him. When he was 15, Brandon felt inspired about two specific directions: joining the military or becoming a priest. 

His first step was to learn more about what it would take to become a priest. Brandon said, “I loved every moment being around like-minded young men, individuals that had a common goal, a common sense of purpose, wanting to be of service. But, deep down, I just knew that it wasn’t the right calling.” So, Brandon knew he needed to pursue his other option — the military. 

Brandon enlisted in the Marines at age 17 and went through boot camp after graduating from high school. Brandon said, “Joining the Marines was just me pushing myself to that bigger sense of calling to being of service.”

Throughout his journey as a Marine, Brandon had a variety of experiences. He was stationed in North Carolina, deployed to Norway for a NATO operation, and then served overseas for two years in Okinawa, Japan. He completed his final year in the military by serving in the reserves in Colorado. Although he enjoyed his time in the Marines, he felt a lingering sense that there was something more out there for him.

While Brandon was in Okinawa, Japan, he had the opportunity to re-enlist for another four years of service. He enjoyed his experience in the military and became well-known among his peers. However, while he was serving, he drifted away from his faith life, as he became more focused on surviving and the Marine lifestyle. 

Then Brandon had a life-defining moment.

He said, “One day, when I was about to sign the contract, I heard a voice in the back of my head saying, ‘Is this going to get you further or closer to God? “ In that moment, Brandon decided not to continue his time in the military. 

He returned to school to earn his bachelor's degree in psychology, with a focus on youth and Christian counseling. While he was in school, he felt a desire to try mission work. He was looking for mission volunteer opportunities and found the Notre Dame Mission Volunteers. 

During his year of service with NDMV, Brandon served at Arrupe Jesuit High School in Colorado. He supported students in preparing for college. Students were part of a program that allowed them to work one day a week with one of the 120+ partnered organizations in the Denver Metro area. Brandon helped coach and guide students through the work program.

Brandon has loved getting to know the students and building relationships with them. Not only has Brandon felt comfortable talking with the students, but the students felt the same way about him. Brandon and his team have cultivated a community with these students, providing them a safe environment to talk and receive support. Not only support for everyday issues, but also mental health support. Through his relationships with the students, he was able to collaborate with the counseling team. He provided insights to the counselors so that students could get additional support as needed. 

Brandon believes in equality and opposes a hierarchy between him, students, and counselors. He said, “Just because we are in charge of them, we don't see it that way; we see it that we’re serving with our students rather than serving them.”

Although the focus was on the students, Brandon also gained opportunities to network with other professionals, such as presidents, managers, and senior leaders. 

Through his service experience and connections to other leaders in the community, Brandon was inspired to pursue a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling for the next three years. He hopes to provide counseling to active-duty military members. He has discovered a soft spot for students during his service year and is considering offering counseling to that generation. 

When asked what he would tell future NDMV members, he said, “This is for everyone.
Don’t be afraid. Take the leap.
It was an amazing experience that I wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else!”.

Brandon is an example of answering the call to serve others and allowing that call to guide his life.

This is just the beginning.