As a Jesuit university, John Carroll takes pride in educating their student-athletes to become 'men and women for others' both inside and outside athletic competition. But for senior Molly Gradowski, stopping soccer goals and social injustices is just a typical day.

Through the years, Molly has been able to successfully manage a busy schedule between soccer and service, but credits both to the development of who she is today. Her commitment to helping others on and off the field far exceeds the ordinary.

“As a goalie and a player, I'm not playing for myself but for my teammates and people who are significant to me. It's my job to direct and motivate people, a lot depends on me,” explains Gradowski. “I'm not playing just to play; it's more complex than that. I'm playing for everyone that's important to me.”

With this type of selfless attitude, it is no wonder Molly has been able to develop into the unique leader that she is today for the Blue Streaks. As a four-year member of the women's soccer team, Molly has been a key player for the team since she arrived as a freshman. But her true impact began to be felt during the 2008 campaign, where she made two key starts late in the season to help John Carroll qualify for the OAC tournament.

As a junior, her dedication to the team and her ability proved to be a winning combination. She earned second team All-Ohio Athletic Conference accolades and was selected OAC Player of the Week during the year. She was ranked first in saves (116) and third in shutouts (7) for the OAC.

However, for Molly, it is how the game of soccer has affected her and not the praise she has received from it that makes her the person she is today.

“The game of soccer has taught me so much and has played an important role in my development as a person,” explains Gradowski. “Soccer has taught me how to work with others and gave me the tools to build my confidence, not only in the position of goalie but as a person too.”

Molly began her soccer career at the age of five and started playing goalie as soon as the position was eligible to play.

“One of my older brothers was a goalie. And I would see him do all these crazy moves and make theses saves, and I'd say to myself I want to do that too!” explained Gradowski.

The path of her soccer career would take her to Georgetown Visitation, a college preparatory school founded in 1799 that is rooted in the Roman Catholic faith and Salesian tradition and is located in Washington, DC.
 
It was here that Molly found yet another path to follow: Social justice.

What really sparked her interest in social justice is when she participated in a program called Encounter the Gospel of Life during her freshman year at Georgetown Visitation. Encounter the Gospel of Life is a catholic summer work camp that consists of 350 plus participants who serve the needs of people in the D.C community. Molly has participated in the program for eight years since she first began.

“After participating in Encounter, social justice became infectious to me,” Gradowski said. “I was really inspired to make a change and do more.”

Continuing her pursuit to serve others, Molly participated in her first service trip during her junior year of high school. She traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico, where she was introduced to issues of immigration.

“I learned a lot on this trip and the experience really inspired me to learn more about the issues of immigration,” explained Gradowski.

When it came time to select a college, the Bethesda, Maryland, native admits that it was service to others more than soccer that drew her interest toward migrating to University Heights.

“Soccer was definitely an after-thought and last minute decision for me,” confessed Gradowski. I didn't even know if I wanted to play soccer in college. What really drew me into John Carroll was the huge service component it had to offer.”

Just as the game of soccer has always been present in Molly's life, so has her call to help others.

“I'm really drawn to the statement 'men and women for others',” replies the humble senior. “I'm always asking myself what am I supposed to do. I've always felt like there is something more I can do and that I have a call or a need to do something for others. I don't even think about why service and working towards social justice is important to me anymore because it's become such a significant part of my life and who I am and who I always will be.”

Filled with a feeling of a call to do more for others, Molly wasted little time in tracking down Chris Kerr, coordinator of social justice initiatives and immersion experiences at John Carroll, through the prestigious Arrupe Scholars Program. When she expressed her interest on immigration issues, Kerr suggested that she participate in the immersion trip to Nicaragua.

“When I came to Carroll I knew I wanted to do more for the community. But I didn't know where to begin, what to do, or how to do it,” said Gradowski. “When Chris suggested doing an immersion trip, I thought this is a great place to start.”

And it was. Since Molly's first immersion experience to Nicaragua during the month of January her freshman year, she has participated in two other immersion experiences.

Following Nicaragua, Gradowski was a student leader in May of her sophomore year for the immersion experience to Juarez, Mexico. Most recently, she participated in an immersion experience to West Virginia.

Although each immersion experience has made a significant impact to Molly, she admits that the trip to West Virginia plays an important role in the way she does things today. For example, since the trip, she carries a water bottle instead of bottled water after learning that it takes 40 gallons of water to make one plastic water bottle.

“The West Virginia trip exposed me to different issues that really surprised me because I didn't know they were present in my own country,” explained Gradowski.

Molly's favorite part about participating in service activities is the community she has been able to build and the strong bonds she has created with other JCU students.

“When I discovered my passion to change things, I realized you cannot do it alone. You have to be able to work together,” said Gradowski.

It is this very same team building attitude that Molly has been able to integrate in to the game of soccer that makes her so beloved to her teammates and coaches.

“Molly is a great leader and a good example both on and off the field,” said teammate Mackenzie Kenner.

That attitude has been key to balancing service, soccer and studies. Molly has managed to carry an overall grade point average of 3.36 as Psychology major with a Spanish minor and has made numerous appearances on the Dean's List. She is also a member of the Arrupe Scholars Program, Presidential Leadership Program, Honors Program, and is part of the World AIDS Awareness Week Planning Team.

So what's next for this ambitious senior, besides working hard on a successful 2010 all-conference campaign? In January, Molly will be a part of the first JCU immersion experience to Rwanda.

“I'm really excited to be a part of the first trip to Rwanda,” explains Gradowski. “I found out last fall that I was going and since then it has been a long preparation process.”

Although her statistics for guarding the net as a Blue Streak will always be appreciated, it is her dedication to her team and humble heart that leaves behind a legacy on and off the field at John Carroll.

“When I tell people I play soccer and participate in service and immersion programs, I'm used to the generalized response of 'wow, you do so much!' or 'that's great you do that!' My teammates, coaches, friends, and family have always been really supportive with what I do, but I never view the things I do as spectacular or extraordinary,” says Gradowski. “I'm just a normal college student who happens to love playing soccer and at the same time loves social justice.”