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WOMEN OF FAITH

Teen goes the extra mile in giving back to God

This is the fourth in an occasional series profiling women who have made a lasting difference in the lives of the members of the church in northwest Florida.

THERESA CHMIEL | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 04.25.08

Taylor Fralix, 17, credits her faith in God with helping her discover what is truly important in life. “When I am working with kids,” she reflects, “I can immerse myself in something greater than me. I can remove myself from the daily drama of high school and help people who have bigger problems than I do.”
PEGGY DEKEYSER | FC

NICEVILLE | Taylor Fralix is just like any other 17–year–old. She has a close circle of friends, sings in the choir at school, works part-time at a clothing boutique and has made a virtual career of volunteering. Well, not exactly like every other 17–year–old. While others see her efforts as extraordinary, Fralix, an enthusiastic junior at Niceville High School, says she’s just following her heart.

“I’ve always had a strong faith,” she says of her Catholic upbringing at Christ Our Redeemer Parish. Her parents, Philip and Pat, try to ensure all three of their children, including older daughter Dianne and son Cullen, understand the importance of giving back, but it is Taylor, says Pat, who always seems to go the extra mile. “She started teaching Sunday school three years ago with her friend Krista Schumacher and has stayed with the same group of kids since.” It’s that kind of commitment that sets Taylor apart.

“I love little kids,” she said. “They are the most amazing people. Every day with kids is a new adventure.” At the end of her sophomore year, Taylor stepped up her involvement with children and began volunteering at Brilliant Minds, a therapy and behavioral clinic for children with autism. There, she shared her passion with one child in particular. “It was amazing to see what she was capable of,” Taylor said of her new friend, a then-10-year-old girl at the clinic. “It took several encounters before she could remember my name but when she finally did, it was so rewarding!” Taylor admits patience was important while volunteering at Brilliant Minds, “but patience is imperative in just about all aspects of life,” she says.

Wisdom beyond her years is yet another quality that sets Taylor apart from her peers. “Taylor was shy when she was in middle school, not really a leader,” says mom Pat, “but as she matured, she became someone others looked up to and turned to. I could tell she was guided by something other than peer pressure.”

Taylor credits her faith in God with helping her discover what is truly important in life. “When I am working with kids,” she reflects, “I can immerse myself in something greater than me. I can remove myself from the daily drama of high school and help people who have bigger problems than I do.” Her reward, she says, is seeing someone smiling because she helped them in some small way.

Gina Ballone, clinical director of Brilliant Minds, can attest to dozens of smiles attributed to Taylor. “Taylor is delightful,” says Ballone, “Most teenagers aren’t exposed to kids with special needs and the experience can be overwhelming. Taylor brought a cheerful, happy attitude to the clinic every day.” More importantly, Ballone says, is Fraxlix’s willingness to take on any task asked of her. “And the kids absolutely adored her.”

Today Fralix continues working with children. In addition to her regular Sunday school class at Christ Our Redeemer, she volunteers at C.W. Ruckel Middle School in a seventh grade science class. The class is an opportunity for Fralix to interact with typical seventh graders and special-needs children mainstreamed into the classroom. “I like this class because it helps all the kids learn how to accept each other,” says Fralix, “We all have ‘disabilities’ to deal with, some are just more obvious. In this class, the kids see each other as people, not that different from each other.”

When asked about her hopes for the future, her answer came quickly: that other teenagers would take time to get out and see what is out there beyond the walls of their high schools. She worries her contemporaries are quick to judge and don’t take time to learn about someone who looks or acts different from themselves.

While most of the women featured in this series have given of themselves to others and to the church for many years, Taylor Fralix’s name was submitted for the series by Christ Our Redeemer pastor, Father Roy Marien, who said that Taylor not only brings joy to the parish, but that her work throughout the community makes her, at 17, a true woman of faith. “She puts others before herself and tries to bring out the best in everyone she meets. She is a living example of Jesus’ compassion and service to others. She gives of herself, not because of personal rewards or recognition, but because of the joy her gifts bring to others.”

To nominate a woman for inclusion in this series, please send your name, daytime phone and e-mail as well as the name and contact information for the woman, to dekeyserp@ptdiocese.org.

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WOMEN OF FAITH

Teen goes the extra mile in giving back to God

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