I almost sure that during your time in high school, you had to read a book or book(s) for the summer before class started up again in the fall. But like high school, there is a text that first year students are asked to read before they start their time here at Loyola University Chicago. And you thought you could escape summer reading? Don’t worry, it is not something like Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises or Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s Chronicle of a Death Foretold, instead the text is relevant and truly embodies Loyola mission for students to be well rounded and aware. Many of the texts picked focus on social justice, exemplify Loyola’s mission and values, multi-faith acceptance, and many greater themes.

Unlike the books you read in high school, the text that you read at Loyola is for all first year students to read. This encourages both commonality, allows for first year students to bond, and encourages dialogues. By asking the deeper and bigger questions, students are called to question and think analytically about the big picture. For example, this year, first year students read a truly moving book called Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. The text tackles difficult topics like racial injustice, police brutality, and corruption within our legal and penal system. When I read the book, as a Peer Advisor, I felt truly a roller coaster of  emotions. At times I felt angry, other times I wanted to cry, but at the end I was optimistic.

To promote Loyola’s mission for justice, first year students are encouraged to participate in an essay contest (which is really only 400-600 words) where they discuss how the text embodies Loyola’s mission and values. They draw both on the text and personal anecdotes. As an incentive for students to participate, potential rewards for the essay contest include: (1) a book scholarship to cover all textbook costs for the spring semester, (2) a speaking engagement with Communities in Conversation to share his/her story with other first-year students.

Don’t worry about purchasing the first year text though. During the summer, around the time of your Orientation you will receive the book in the mail. It is yours to enjoy, annotate, and take with you. If you have more questions or want more information on the first year text or the essay contest, please check out: (http://www.luc.edu/sto/first-yearexperience/first-yeartext/) or (http://www.luc.edu/sto/first-yearexperience/essay-contest/).