November 13, 2009 Southwest News-Herald - City
Excels in Life, Neighborhood Of West Lawn
In today’s world of drugs and violence, it is all too easy to get mixed up in the wrong crowd and take a turn down the wrong road.
Every now and again, however, there are individuals who remain faithful to their goals and gain respect by leading through example.
Michael Rzasa is one of those individuals.
Rzasa was born and raised in the West Lawn neighborhood and began learning the basis of his Catholic religion from an early age. He quickly embodied the principles of his faith and learned the value of serving others and becoming a productive part of the community.
Rzasa attended Queen of the Universe Catholic School, 7130 S. Hamlin Ave., where he played the guard position on the school’s basketball team.
Rzasa’s faith in the Catholic religion continued to grow as he decided to attend Brother Rice High School, 10001 S. Pulaski Road, after graduation from Universe.
James Antos, principal of Brother Rice High School, remembers Rzasa as “the guy who got the job done well.”
Antos is not surprised at all by Rzasa’s success and commends Rzasa’s work ethic as a testament not only to Rzasa, but to his entire family, as well.
“He was a likeable, sociable kid,” says Antos. “He worked really hard, and came from a nice family.”
During his time at Brother Rice, Rzasa participated in the Edmund Rice Society, a service-based group committed to getting involved in the community.
As a member, Rzasa volunteered with other young men in this group to feed the homeless at the Southwest Chicago Public Action to Deliver Shelter, also known as PADS.
There he met Sr. Therese DelGenio, a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and the founder and executive director of the Southwest Chicago PADS branch.
“He was always very steadfast, which is very complimentary for a student in high school,” said DelGenio.
“He has a sensitivity to people who are in need and a general willingness to share of himself,” continued DelGenio.
After high school graduation, Rzasa decided to attend Eastern Illinois University, where he joined the ROTC program. It was there that his ROTC officers encouraged him to consider a career in the medical field.
Inspired by his mother, Maureen Rzasa, a cardio-vascular technologist at Advocate Christ Medical Center, and three of his aunts who are nurses, Rzasa decided to attend nursing school.
In 2002, Rzasa volunteered at Holy Cross Hospital and was later hired as an emergency room technician. He earned his CAN while working part-time at Holy Cross and attending nursing school.
Rzasa enrolled in the pre-nursing program at EIU and then entered the Lakeview College of Nursing. He graduated in May of 2009 with a B.S. in Nursing. This past July, he passed his state board exams.
Presently, Rzasa is working in the emergency room at Holy Cross Hospital.
This young man’s academic accomplishments speak for themselves. However, it is Rzasa’s character and integrity that really make him stand out.
Danny Walus, his friend of 15 years, describes Rzasa as a trustworthy, helpful, and responsible friend. Both Walus and Rzasa mentor “younger brothers,” and Walus compares Rzasa’s mentoring style to that of a sports coach.
“Overall, he is really easy to talk to and very helpful. He leads by example and when he explains things, he not only explains how to do something, but why you should do it,” says Walus.
Jose Carmona, Rzasa’s longtime friend and roommate in college, shares similar thoughts.
“He is soft spoken but passionate. Ever since he decided to go to nursing school, I always knew he was going to be a nurse because he was always helpful to his friends,” says Carmona.
Perhaps a college memory best portrays the type of individual Rzasa is.
Carmona recalls their sophomore year of college when both he and Rzasa were studying for finals. “It was nearing 4 o’clock in the morning and I was falling asleep, but Mike made sure I stayed awake and got all my work done.”
“That is just the type of person he is,” concludes Carmona.