Although his schedule is packed with activity, that hardly makes for a balanced life. Brian McKernan's life wouldn't be complete without service to others, a deeply held value he learned early in life from his father, a middle school teacher, in their hometown of Southington, Conn., for whom community service was a way of life.

As an elementary school student, McKernan was "allowed" to help his father at local activities like Special Olympics competitions and Red Cross blood drives.

"I remember the excitement of actually being able to volunteer at these events," he recalls.

His desire to help others gained momentum at Saint Anselm when, as a service learning option for his juvenile justice course, he volunteered at Kids Café, a program for Manchester youth run by The Salvation Army. This experience inspired him to join Campus Ministry's weekend Urban Immersion program in Philadelphia, helping to feed and clothe the city's homeless at the Saint Francis Inn, an inner city shelter and soup kitchen. Deeply moved by this experience, he returned a semester later to lead a group for a follow-up engagement, and immediately signed up for the week-long Spring Break Alternative project. This year's Spring Break Alternative took students to the Glenmary Home Missioners in Vanceburg, Ky. A return trip as a group leader on an international trip is definitely in the plans for the coming year.

Each day as McKernan takes the final strides of his workout, he heads off the course with a sense of contentment. His to-do list is in order, his plans are set and his direction is clear.

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