When I applied to Boston College I did not have an understanding of what being a Jesuit university meant and I definitely did not realize the impact that would have on my undergraduate career. I am fortunate to have gotten the opportunity to learn about and embrace the Jesuit values and this has played a large role in shaping the person I have become since I walked on to campus 3 years ago. My curiosity took over immediately upon starting at Boston College and I began my quest to educate myself on the culture that accompanies a Jesuit education. Through this I uncovered a whole new world and a Jesuit spirit that I believe will always be with me. I was raised in a family that was not very religious and prior to starting college I usually only …show more content…
They encouraged me to acknowledge my darkness and work to bring light not just to the darkness in others but also to the darkness in myself. My introduction to this community led me to further my involvement in Campus Ministry by becoming a member of the Appalachia Volunteers Program and a Boston College run program that allowed me to receive the sacrament of Confirmation during the Spring of my freshman year. My Jesuit education did not just impact my spiritual life, but also played a role in my academics. The liberal arts education I am receiving has been developed around the tradition of cura personalis and the required core curriculum pushed me towards an area of study I had not expected. As I was completing my foreign language requirement my freshman year I realized that I love learning languages. I made fluency in Spanish a goal for my time at college, and this led me to participate in programs that matched me with conversation partners from the Parish of St. Ignatius Church in Chestnut Hill, declare a Hispanic Studies minor, and study abroad for a summer in Barcelona while living with a host