Welcome back, Class of 2023! We are thrilled to reconnect with you as you settle into our non-traditional semester. Non-traditional: oddly enough, it is a word that offers me comfort and hope. It is a word that many of my loved ones have use to describe me throughout my life. Someone who can still pass within our more standard ways of work and life but is just off-the-beaten-path enough to offer fresh perspectives and keep life zesty. Orienting myself in such a manner has taught me a few things about what it means to step away from the expected.
When the cleaner paths that have been laid out for us (by ourselves or others) are no longer traversable we are forced to look inward and re-evaluate. We are invited to remember our values, to return to our most basic missions, and reassess our needs and goals. This process helps us reconnect with our north star so that we have direction as we forge new roads. If you pay close enough attention along the way, you may come to find something pretty magical. You may just discover this labor-intensive but self-constructed path to be better fitted for you than the original. And although struggle and fear often accompany each step, you begin to wonder if any of us were every truly meant to follow the neatly pre-designed road. You may even question if the traditional path ever actually existed. Suddenly, the world might feel a little less scary because you can’t fail when there is no standard to meet. The setbacks and obstacles along the way are just a part of the adventure. More importantly, you begin to trust your ability to creatively land on your feet and continue the adventure of becoming!
My hope for you this semester, Class of 2023, is that you fully embrace the blessing of non-tradition. Where in your life might you need to hit the reset button? What are the brave and creative steps you need to take to live authentically and with purpose? While only you can answer these questions, you are much more likely to fully discover them in community. Continue to seek out those Loyola opportunities that will give you the time and support you need. They are still happening! Here are some opportunities perfect for sophomores:
1) Pathfinders:
· When you’re trying to figure out what to do with your life—or just want to know what to do when the plans change.
· Weekly support, peer mentorship, and step by step guidance through the career exploration and vocational discernment process for sophomores. Join us to gain a clearer understanding of your intended major/minor, a better understanding of their career options, and the tools to navigate future vocational decisions.
· Last chance to register by Monday, September 7
· When you want to understand leadership and figure out your specific style
· SLC is looking for future leaders committed to making the world a better place – one person at a time. Through weekly gatherings students will gain a deeper understanding of themselves and others around the topic of leadership skills. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with peers in an engaging and meaningful way this semester.
· Last chance to register by Monday, September 7
3) Milestone Fair: (link not available yet)
· When you’re not sure what to expect or focus on during a virtual semester to stay on track.
· This virtual fair will help you stay on track with the important milestones of your class year. Get entered to win prizes, including international Air BnB Experiences, by participating!
· More details to come.
4) Sarah Smarsh:
· When your spring semester goes online and you get to have cool sophomore events!
· Sarah Smarsh is the author of Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth, which became an instant New York Times bestseller and was a finalist for the 2018 National Book Award. She has covered socioeconomic class, politics, and public policy for the Guardian, the New York Times, the Texas Observer, Pacific Standard, the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, and many other publications. A 2018 Joan Shorenstein Fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and a former professor of nonfiction writing, Smarsh is a frequent speaker and media commentator on economic inequality. She lives in Kansas.
1) BMore Engaged
· When you still want to engage with your community in meaningful ways.
5) Loyola Votes:
· When you need to register to vote!!
-Ashley Schantz
