‘Darius, Follow Me’

American-Indian Student Darius Sparks Finds Focus Through Catholic Education

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College freshman Darius Sparks, a business major and basketball player at the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., says he is living a dream now. 

Today, at age 20, his life is good — very good. For that, he thanks God, his loving foster parents and Catholic education. Although several colleges were interested in recruiting him for basketball, he chose the University of Mary, in large part, he said, because of its Catholic identity.

 

You were all-state in basketball and football and the captain of your football team at St. Mary’s Central High School. How did you end up going there?

After eighth grade, I was in foster care and had the option of going to public or private school. I knew some of the St. Mary’s students from playing travel basketball with them. When I toured St. Mary’s, I loved how Mr. Ruggles [a religion teacher] described the school: “We’re like a family; everyone knows each other, and we treat each other with respect and kindness.”

During this time, I also had a dream. I was in St. Mary’s school. It was dark, and someone was after me. I ran up the stairs, where there were a lot of doors. I heard a faint voice calling my name. One of the doors opened, and the priest walked in and said, “Darius, follow me.” He put his arm over my shoulder and walked out into the light with me. When [Father Josh] Waltz talked during freshman orientation, he looked so familiar to me. Then it hit me: He was the priest in my dream.

 

Tell me about your childhood.

My mom took good care of my sister and me until I was 3 years old. After her dad died — they had been very close — she got into drugs and drinking. My mom told me that my own dad had left her when he found out she was pregnant. She tried to make sure my sister and I knew that she loved us, but it was so hard for her to handle her addiction.

 We moved around a lot. My sister and I saw my mom get beaten by boyfriends sometimes. Often, there was no food at home, so I would steal from stores so my sister and I could eat. I was taken away from my mom at age 7, 9 and then for good at 12 and put into foster care.

 

Were you raised Catholic?

My grandma Betty — she’s really my sister’s grandmother, but she’s like my grandmother, too — took me to Mass. Everyone assumed I was Catholic; I even did. It was not until recently that we discovered I was never baptized. As a matter of fact, Father Waltz is working with me right now to help me get ready for baptism and confirmation.

 

Your background was very different from that of your classmates. Was it hard for you to fit in?

I didn’t make friends right away, and the schoolwork was hard — I had a lot of gaps. My worst grades were in religion, because it was like learning a new language, but I caught on. I started becoming friends with the guys I played sports with. They became like brothers to me.

 

While you were a sophomore at St. Mary’s, you got into trouble and could have been kicked out. What happened?

I was invited to play AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) basketball. It’s a highly competitive traveling league. It cost $2,600 to cover everything. My coach set up [an opportunity for] selling cookie dough and pizzas to help us raise money.

I raised $1,600, but with the deadline near, I was still $1,000 short. When I was younger, I used to steal and sell things to get money. It seemed like my only solution. I visited my grandma in Mobridge and stole her pain medication, planning to sell it. Instead, my foster parents discovered it, and I was sent to live in a group home for 11 months. It felt like I had lost everything. But the principal, Dr. Eberle, told me he saw something in me and let me stay at St. Mary’s.

 

How did moving into the home of Mike and Janel Schmitz change your life?

I was in a group home part of my sophomore year. Their two boys had attended St. Mary’s, and their oldest son, Jason, heard about me from the head basketball coach. “He needs someone to save him,” the coach told Jason. Jason told his parents, who felt God was calling them to take me in. Even though I had decided to live with my grandma Betty, the Schmitzes went through foster-care licensing and invited me to their home to meet them that summer. They immediately hugged me when I walked in the door. From the start, everything clicked. I have been treated like one of their own sons and am still a part of their family. Once I felt like I was loved and belonged, it inspired me to want to give back to others.

 

You raised money for new playground equipment at the St. Bernard Mission School on the Fort Yates Indian Reservation, where you spent part of your childhood. How did that come about?

Our senior class went on a one-day mission trip to St. Bernard Mission School. I had lived on the reservation for part of my childhood. After Mass, when Father [Basil] Atwell told us that, for some kids, school is the only place they feel safe and know they will be fed, it hit me hard. I started crying — that had been my childhood.

Later, when I played with the kids on the playground, I noticed the broken-down playground equipment was the same stuff I played on as a kid. When I got home, I put together a letter to send to the St. Mary’s families, asking for donations for new equipment. [Note: $25,000 was raised for a new play structure. Father Atwell is hoping for additional donations to be able to get something for the very young children, too.]

 

I heard you met your father for the first time. How did that come about?

My mom was mistaken about who my real father was. A cousin saw a picture of me in the paper during basketball season and showed it to him. We look exactly alike. In February, once he found out about me, he drove here from South Dakota to the rest of my basketball games and was at my graduation. It was the first time I ever had a parent in the stands at one of my basketball games.

Why did you choose to attend the University of Mary?

At St. Mary’s, even sports are centered on faith. No matter, win or lose, we still prayed after the games. It was an example that, in life, even when something goes wrong, you shouldn’t forget about your faith.

I want to embrace the Catholic faith. It’s one of the reasons I chose to attend the University of Mary — for the support to live it. I really believe in the Catholic faith, [Church teaching], especially the marriage part. I had a marriage and family life class my senior year at St. Mary’s [high school], and I also witnessed the benefits of a strong marriage from Mike and Janel.

I also appreciate that they try to graduate students in four years.

 

What is your favorite subject?

English composition, because I love to write essays and tell my story. Most of my essay papers are stories from my life, so I thrive in this class.

 

What is the Catholic environment on campus like?

It is very awesome. The students and teachers on campus are very positive. There is a chapel in a building connected to my dorm, so if I need to pray and collect myself, it’s open 24/7 for any student to go in there. Also, there is daily Mass on campus, and there are a couple of Masses on Sundays.

 

What does the future hold?

Someone has already promised me an internship as a stockbroker when I graduate. I also want to become a motivational speaker and find ways to help underprivileged kids and young adults. I want to give hope to others that things can get better.

 

Patti Armstrong writes from North Dakota.

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