Hi there! My name is Ha Le, but I often go by Millie. I’m from Hanoi, Vietnam and am currently a sophomore in Communication Studies, with minors in Theatre and Creative Writing. My wonders lie in storytelling and videography, and you can usually find me with the Diminuendo Literary and Arts Magazine creatives or scribbling in the Schreiber Center. But more on that later.
Welcome to Such a ‘Bler! I decided to take on this name because honestly who could resist a pun opportunity? (‘Bler = Rambler = …sounds like blur, okay I’ll stop) But besides that, the phrase truly speaks to my experience at Loyola University Chicago so far. It’s a new unpredictable with every turn, but I think I’ve grown to love living this way – this spontaneous, promising and ever so exciting way.
Being a part of the Social Media team means a lot to me because their work actually helped me discover the university! I remember re-watching the School of Communication’s tour on LUC’s YouTube channel and sending in my application knowing that I needed to call it home! Now that I’m here, I am ecstatic to share my Loyola lens with you. Through these scribbles and a tasteful twist of some new video projects, I hope to capture a closer look at the welcoming, enthusiastic and driven community that’s waiting for you!
May 1st, is the day that high school seniors look most forward to during their time in their high school career. You’ve been pondering the idea of what is the best option for you; academically, financially, etc. and you want to be sure that you make the right choice for you. The weeks prior, you may have been visiting all the schools you already got accepted into to see the campus again, one last time, before you put down your deposit. After all, today is college decision day!
It is natural to feel stressed, overwhelmed, and unsure if you are making the right choice. But you should know, that you are making the choice, and in your gut you know it will be the right decision. I was in your place three years ago. I had narrowed down my list from 8 schools to 3 schools. With these three schools, Loyola being one of them, I conducted a SWOT analysis. For those who don’t know, a SWOT analysis is frequently used with advertising and marketing where you analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of a certain scenario. After completing this exercise, I realized that going to Loyola University Chicago would be the best university for me to attend. I have not looked back or ever regretted my decision to enroll at the school.
From my time in college, here have been some of my highlights of my journey, so far:
Being a part of the Interdisciplinary Honors College: Here, I learned a truly diverse style of education that incorporated Loyola’s culture of educating the entire person. From learning classic epics like The Iliad and The Aeneid to learning about the adjustment of Hmong culture in an American hospital to learning about the Augusto Pinochet regime and the advertising campaign that aided in bringing him down; I have truly developed and enhanced my worldview.
Work Experience: Building connections and relationships with fellow classmates and faculty members is always important. My sophomore year of college, I was fortunate enough to get a job as a Peer Advisor for First and Second Year Advising. This was the same time that I found a job as a blogger and a member of the social media team in the Undergraduate Admissions office. During my junior year, I kept my work as a blogger as I took all of you up the CTA red line to explore different neighborhoods throughout the city of Chicago. I was able to get a job as the Marketing Program Research Assistant where I helped plan events, create curriculum, and assist in special projects for Marketing faculty. This job has been truly fulfilling as I continually build connections and learn new tools and skills.
Declaring an Advertising/Public Relations major: During the beginning of my junior year, I declared a major in Advertising and Public Relations. This was to add on to my International Studies and Marketing minors. It is with this major that got me to recognize what I want to do when I graduate college, becoming an advertising strategist. By being the branch between right brain and left brain (account and creative), strategy covers the best of both worlds. By enhancing my worldview with relevant coursework in Marketing (international/political marketing, consumer behavior) and International Studies (encountering Latin America/Asia, People of Latin America), I will be able to provide a global perspective. This is because all people deserve to be represented equally and properly, so they too can see themselves in ads.
Studying Abroad in Heredia, Costa Rica: During the summer between my sophomore and junior year, I joined the USAC program to study abroad in the city of Heredia, Costa Rica; a city 20 minutes away from the capital of San Jose. Here, I studied Tropical Conservation and Development as well as learned some cooking skills in Latin American Cuisine. I was able to make a ton of friends from different universities (with surprisingly no Chicago or Loyola students). I got to explore the rainforest (with a guide of course); went on a river boat exploring various ecosystems (with snakes, crocodiles, and sloths); zip-lined across the highest and longest zipline in Latin America; and went to the black sand beaches on the Atlantic side of the country at Puerto Viejo. However, my favorite experience (besides all the good food), was my welcoming and loving host family, Mama Yolanda and Papa Humberto, who made me feel like I was their own son. Mama Yolanda would accompany me for almost every meal, take me on excursions to the open air markets (and help me haggle for the very best price), and did my laundry and ironing everyday. I am so fortunate to have both of these wonderful people in my life and we are still on touch with WhatsApp and are Facebook friends as well!
Amazing Friends: During my time throughout university, I have been truly lucky to have an amazing group of friends that I can depend on. From my first friend in college, Norm, who reached out to me during the end of my senior year of high school. I’ll just say we bonded easily over tea and broadway musicals. It also helped that we were in the same international studies class during our freshman year. There is also my friends Fran, Barb, and Gayatri, the “brunch bunch”. I was friends with Fran and Barb because of the honors program and was introduced to their roommate Gayatri, with our mutual love for Indian food. I have also forged incredible friendships from my Loyola 360, Alternative Break Immersion in Washington DC, my other classes, Wind Ensemble, and Kapwa (Filipino Student Organization). From moments like these, I have been able to create new friendships and find inspiring mentors during my time here at Loyola.
Plans for my Senior Year of College:
I have become an Account Executive at Inigo Communications, a student run Advertising/Public Relations agency here at the School of Communications.
Besides being a Research Assistant for the Marketing Department, I will also become a Teaching Assistant (TA) for the Fundamentals of Marketing course. Both positions will be for next year.
I will be taking the last few courses in my major and have finished up my marketing/international studies minors by fall. I will be taking courses in Media Planning, Political Marketing, Special Topics in Advertising/Public Relations, Moral Responsibility Capstone, and Peoples of Latin America.
I will be all set to graduate for May 2019!
Thank you all again for an amazing two years! I hope I have provided you with all the tips for making your Loyola experience a fun one, gave you enough restaurants to explore as you go throughout Chicago’s neighborhoods, and so much more. As you make your final decision of where you want to go to college, please know that a Loyola education is like no other. By educating the entire person, you will be able to go forth and set the world on fire.
All of this, will allow you, to live Life El-evated.
Hello fellow Rambler, it’s that time of the year again. The Chicago weather has gotten much colder, the coats and thermal wear have gotten thicker, and the need for some quality piping hot chocolate and steaming herbal tea gets greater. You bust out all of your scarves, heavy duty gloves, and fluffy earmuffs; even this is not enough! The fall semester is winding down and it is already finals week here at Loyola Chicago! As part of Jesuit tradition, I am going to take this blog post to reflect on my experiences this past semester.
This semester was truly time consuming and a lot of hard work. I took 18 credits, which is a full load. It was exhausting, I always had work to do with numerous projects, papers, exams, etc.
In many of my classes I was able to gain some wonderful experience working with real world clients. In my Public Relations class we had to come up with a Public Relations Plan for a new product with dried cherry company based out of Washington state. For my Consumer Behavior class, we worked with Loom, a company tied with Catholic Charities to help refugee women create handmade products (scarves, earrings, pillows, etc.), and created video through our primary and secondary research, to help them promote their sales online.
In my Advertising class, I was able to come up with an entire advertising campaign with a group where we created our own energy bar catered toward college students. This project took up the whole semester to complete but it was super worth it! We had a lot of fun doing this!
This semester, my honors course was in Encountering Latin America and the Caribbean. Just like my other area study course, I had a lot of fun learning about this region in the world. Here I was able to apply many of the things that I learned when I studied abroad in Heredia, Costa Rica this past summer. I got the chance to read Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits which has become one of my favorite books of all time. Within its pages, themes of class, gender, and relationships are all covered; all in the context of Latin America. Additionally, I had to write a 10 page paper on the favelas, the shantytowns, of Brazil in terms of race, class, and criminology.
I was fortunate enough to be employed with the Quinlan School of Business for my junior and senior year. Currently, I am working with the Marketing department as their Marketing Research Assistant. As part of my job, I get to help the marketing faculty and the teaching assistants that aid them. I help find conferences, plan events, create presentations, and so much more! This job has allowed me to build connections with marketing professionals and gain experience with the marketing field.
Next semester, I look forward to my new set of classes, new events and promotions with my job, and of course being able to grab an internship for this coming summer!
Have a wonderful rest of your semester fellow Rambler and I hope you have a fun new year!
Congratulations! You have survived your first three weeks of school and have hopefully become acquainted with your new home here at Loyola University Chicago! Yes, you have a homework, projects, and papers, but hopefully you are able to take time for yourself, some “Me-Time”. College is not just about the academics (which are very important), but it is also about exploring your passions and pursuing your interests. Here are some suggestions to help you have a academically successful as well as a well-rounded, balanced first year at your new school.
Do not spread yourself too thin: After coming from the activities and organization fair in the fall, you may become overwhelmed and wonder how you are going to balance your school load as well as your extracurricular life. This is a perfectly normal feeling! Know and have a feeling of your stress level and how much you can take, then plan accordingly. I realized this hard way the first semester of my sophomore year. I thought that taking on a 21 credit hour load, with a job on campus as a Peer Advisor with three UNIV courses, a bass trombonist for the Wind Ensemble, prepare for a recital, be a Kuya (peer mentor) for Kapwa (the Filipino Student Organization), and work at the Undergraduate Admissions Office; would be doable and manageable. Oh, how was I wrong! After the first week of classes, I was highly stressed and could hardly have a chance to relax. That’s when I realized that I had spread myself too thin. To counteract this, I cut down my academic load to 18 credit hours. It was after this decision was I able to relax and fully evaluate my school balance. To teach my students the importance of knowing how much you can take, I told my UNIV students the same thing I am telling you. You know yourself better than anyone else!
Get Involved: Was there a club, organization, sport that you truly enjoyed during high school? There is almost certainly a club like this and more at Loyola! And, if you do not find something but want to start it, Loyola always welcomes new ideas for clubs/activities for its students to join and be a part of. There are also plenty of events to allow students to get involved with service and charity. When coming to Loyola I looked for clubs that I was interested in and also fit my hectic commuting schedule. After being a part of my high school’s Filipino Tinikling Group, I knew I wanted to be a part of Kapwa (Loyola’s Filipino Student Organization) and be a part of their mentoring program. I was fortunate enough to have wonderful mentors (three wonderful Ates) who I am still in touch with. Additionally, I knew I wanted to be part of Loyola’s Wind Ensemble. In high school, I was highly involved in the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra, Marching Band, and Musical Theatre. Being in the Ensemble allowed me to relax while doing something I enjoy, playing music! Whatever club/organization you end up choosing, be dedicated and be a leader!
Take Advantage of Chicago: You are in Chicago, the third most populated metropolitan area in the United States behind New York City and Los Angeles! What are the perks of a city like Chicago? There is always something for you to do! Whether you want to go to the world renowned museums, watch concerts at Millennium Park, or hang out in Chicago’s small towns and neighborhoods; it is all doable in a city like Chicago. All of these attractions are within a swipes reach? Yes, you heard that right, part of your tuition to Loyola includes something called a U-Pass allowing students access to all CTA Trains and Buses. Take full advantage of this wonderful opportunity!
Take Time For Yourself: This one is self-explanatory but be sure to give yourself the time to relax and enjoy and not get too stressed. If you need help in managing stress and getting adjusted to college life, there are always those who can help you out. From a therapy dog to counselors, there are always people who want you to take care of yourself!
Take a deep breath and fully appreciate the experiences and opportunities that Loyola University Chicago and the city of Chicago has to offer you! Adventure is out there!
It is part of the Jesuit tradition, even emphasized by St Ignatius of Loyola, it is the importance of reflection. Whether you enjoy journal writing, creating art, or making music; I believe it is important to clear your head and look introspectively. So, as the semester draws to a close, with three days of the academic year left, it is my turn to reflect on my Sophomore year.
Academics:
This past semester has gone by very quickly. It seems that I was just at Winter Break and now I am on Summer Break! I recently switched my Communications Major to a major in Advertising and Public Relations with an Advertising concentration. Likewise, I took some business classes at the Quinlan School of Business, both Marketing and Management. I have enjoyed both of these classes, and thus, I am formally a Marketing minor along with my International Studies minor.
As for my other classes, I have enjoyed my honors class on Southeast Asian: Film, Ethnography, and Literature. I was able to understand my Filipino culture from a more academic lens. This semester was also my last one applied lessons. As some of you may know from my previous posts, I play bass trombone in Loyola’s Wind Ensemble. However, since I have to be sure to complete my courses on time, I have to take 18 credit hours each semester and remove band and lessons from my schedule.
Extracurricular:
This past year was my first year as a “Kuya” (big brother) for Kapwa (Loyola’s Filipino Student Organization). I had two wonderful “bunsos” (littles) while working alongside my friend in band who was the “Ate” (big sister). I have also changed plans with my study abroad for this summer. I understand that on my previous reflection that I would be studying in Santiago, Chile for a video production class. Instead, I will be taking a class on international public relations in London, England. My decision was partially based on my change in major as well as my interest in the subject. In addition to studying abroad, I have landed a spot at an internship for the summer. I will be working at a marketing firm fifteen minutes away from my house. I hope this will give me the opportunity to work in the real “adult” world.
University is a time to develop yourself, to figure out what you want to do, and how you want to use your skills and talents in the real world. University is also a time to commit to your interests (clubs/organizations, Greek Life); commit to a program (major(s), minor(s), pre-professional program); and commit to being a Rambler! Along the way, you will make countless choices and decisions. Luckily, there are people here at Loyola who will help you along the way: your Academic Advisors, Faculty, and even your Peers.
May 1st: Decision Day
May 1st is the biggest day for seniors in my high school. On that special day, seniors wear their college t-shirt of where they are going and additionally post on social media, them wearing their university swag. By this date, seniors across the country formally declare that they are attending a certain institution. This is perhaps the step you are in right now. Maybe you made a list of pros and cons, you visited the school overnight, or attended an admitted student day. Regardless, this is a day to celebrate, you have decided where you are going to university for the next four years! (Hopefully it is Loyola!)
Committing to your Interests
Whether you were an all around student who was juggling many activities/organizations in high school or were the student who had fewer activities but took a leadership position with them, university is the chance to continue to pursue things that interest you and allow you to develop as a person as well. When I was in high school, I was highly involved in the music program. I played the bass trombone and was section leader of the wind ensemble, orchestra, jazz ensemble, musical pit, and marching band. On the side, I was a co-captain of the varsity scholastic bowl and danced Tinikling (a Filipino traditional dance) for my school’s ethnic fair.
When I was in university, I also knew that I wanted to be highly involved. Being one of the few minorities in my high school, I knew I wanted to be in Kapwa (the Filipino Student Organization), where I was able to become a Kuya (“Big Brother”) for first year students by acting as a mentor. Wanting to continue my musical interest, I continued to play bass trombone in Loyola’s Wind Ensemble. In addition, I developed my skills to become a Peer Advisor for the First and Second Year Advising office, helping first year students transition into the university. Likewise, I currently work in the Undergraduate Admissions office as a blogger and a social media specialist. Whatever you want to do, whatever skills you want to develop or expound, you will find something that will allow you to grow as an individual.
Academic Commitments
During your first two years at Loyola, you will be taking mostly core classes. Being a Jesuit institution, the school wants its students to gain a holistic approach to their education. Whether it be through philosophy, theology, the arts, ethics, and more. This allows students to have a basic understanding and have a taste of different fields and subjects that are not in their major. While you do not have formally declare your major until the end of your sophomore year, you can try some classes in majors that interest you and get your feet wet. Along the way you can find things that you add on as minors as well. Regardless, I believe that during your first two years, a spark will go off in your head, you will find something that you are passionate about and want to pursuit. For example, when I was starting college I initially wanted to be Pre-Med with a minor in psychology. However, after much thought and talk with my parents, I ‘switched’ my major to International Studies during my summer orientation before classes. Throughout the process, I had different minors that I thought I might want to pursue e.g. management, Spanish literature, anthropology. Yet, as my sophomore year is coming to close, I have determined what I was going to study, Advertising/Public Relations with minors in Marketing and International Studies. This decision was made through the help of my advisors, my faculty, and my parents.
“What’s next?” is the question that many recent college graduates have on their minds. There are many routes that one can take after receiving their diploma. Some decide to enter the work force, and hopefully pay down that college debt. Others, go onto graduate school to grab a master’s degree. There are also those who want to take a mental/physical break and travel for a bit. Whatever, your calling, it is always a good idea to have experience up your sleeve. This is where where these resources come into play.
Resumes: Resumes are textual photographs that tell your prospective employer your education, skills, work experiences, and a sprinkle of personal facts about you. Whether you have a ton of experience or you are still trying to find your niche, it is important for one put together their resume. Do you need help putting together what’s important and what would be better to be left out? You are on luck, on campus we have a service called the Career Development Center (in the Sullivan Center) where you can go to help you in your resume writing process. In addition they provide information on how to write a proper cover letter, how to interview well, and other business needs/questions that you might have.
LinkedIn: Often referred to as the Facebook for professionals, LinkedIn is a social networking site where jobs opportunities, employers, etc. go to connect and establish professional relationships with each other. Here, you can find people from business professionals (CEOs and Managers) to salespeople, professors, marketers, and more. As a tip, I would recommend connecting with your professors, friends, coworkers, and Loyola alums. They might just help you out on your job search.
Jobs on Campus: Want to feel what it is like to adult and have a job? Through Loyola’s job search engine, RamblerLink, you can find jobs that will allow you to find jobs both on or off campus. You can also find some job opportunities from pamphlets and flyers around the school. Whether you want to be a Peer Advisor, a person who works at the Undergraduate Admissions office, or an assistant for the Financial Aid office; there is always something that you can get involved in. These jobs will help you branch out your network and give you the work experience you need.
Job Fairs: Throughout the school year, Loyola brings in employers from around the Chicagoland area. Most Loyola schools have their own: School of Communication, Business, Social Work, etc. It is during these fairs where you get the opportunity to talk to prospective employers to talk about internship availabilities to entry level positions. All you need to bring are your resumes, business casual attire, your student ID, and a confident smile on your face. Who knows? You might just be offered an internship or a job! If not, just keep pushing through.
The semester is finally almost to an end, and with finals in full swing, I think it’s a good time to do some reflection on how this past semester has been.
As a freshman last year there was a lot for me to take in. Between no longer living at home, to living in the city of Chicago, to adjusting to college courses, I never really found the time to become an active member on campus. This year however, I was able to really take the time and get involved, and I don’t see it slowing down any next semester.
From working here and operating various social media accounts like Instagram and Twitter, to giving tours to prospective students, to working at WLUW LUC’s radio station, and deciding next semester to work for Diminuendo, I’ve been able to really see what it means to be a Rambler. I was able to learn how there are so many communities that help our students feel welcome here, and all we have to do is reach out and give it a shot. And despite knowing about how much the word ‘Community’ meant to Loyolans last semester, I was able to take solace in a number of these communities, outside of my friend group. And to any incoming freshman or freshman who haven’t found themselves a community yet, it’s entirely possible to find one that works best for you, with likeminded people being abound, whether that’s a fraternity/sorority, one of the many clubs and organizations, or even working at the Radio Station with your’s truly.
This past semester I was also finally able to take classes geared towards my major as well as 200 and 300-level courses, which was able to really give me a taste of how brilliant our professors. To be able to go into my professor’s office hour’s and just get to know them better has by far been one of the best decisions I’ve been able to make this year. Each and every one of them comes from such a brilliant background, spending years in their field of study, and each one of them really does want to see each of their students successful, if they can do anything to help them grow and develop.
It’s been amazing to be at a University that I feel at home at, and I truly hope that all of you have the ability to do the same. I can’t wait for the experiences to come
Happy Holidays to everyone, and good luck on the rest of finals, Ramblers!!!
Thanksgiving break already? This semester seems like it’s breezed on by, with only a couple weeks left in the semester. (And a couple papers that I still haven’t started.) Realizing how quickly everything has flashed before my eyes gives me a great chance to finally reflect on this past semester.
As a sophomore, I feel much more confident in thinking that I can handle the different aspects of college life, especially time management for a person such as myself. Still living on campus, and living with three other really great guys, that alone has helped improve my experience here at Loyola. From being able to cook meals with said roommates, to making random desserts such as brownies and cookies, to just being able to amass huge amounts of leftovers from all of the great Chicago restaurants, the sense of community hasn’t dissipated in the slightest for me. Including our neighbors, as well as our variety of friends from the others floors, as well as Campus Towers, just across the street.
This year I’ve also had the pleasure and honor of working as a student ambassador, seeing such a large amount of potential students interested in Loyola. That experience has allowed me to reflect on everything that I’ve done around campus, from the classes I’ve taken and how hard our professors work, to every social event I’ve seen happening, and been a part of. I feel more proud to be a Rambler, once I think about how welcoming and open-minded Loyola is as a Jesuit Catholic institution.
Speaking of our professors, this year since I’ve gotten even further in my studies, I’ve been able to witness first-hand how dedicated our professors are; not just to their area of study, but also to their students. Consistently being open and as kind as they can be, they’ve helped make Loyola a great learning environment. One of my most recent encounters has been with my History professor, Professor Donoghue. His class that I’m taking focuses on Pirates and Sailors in the Atlantic in Caribbean. However, because I’m a massive history nerd and like to reenact in my spare time, I was curious to see if he had any resources for me to help one of my historical kits (French and Indian War, for those who’re wondering). And despite the topic having nothing to do with our class much at all, he was still able to not only suggest where to start looking, but also referred me to an old Grad student of his, who had done the very reenactment in depth. Such an occurrence isn’t uncommon here, where our professors try their hardest to ensure their students successful, and yearn to see them following their passions.
Community is very prevalent here, which is why I’m definitely proud to call myself a Rambler. I’m not even halfway done with my adventure here, but with everything LUC does to make sure everyone feels safe and welcome, I want to continue to grow and develop as a scholar, as well as an individual, at a place that tries its best that I can do that on a professional level.
So since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, I just want to say I’m definitely thankful I can be a part of a University that wants to see the world as a better place for all people, and take the initiative to do that.
As a sophomore here at Loyola, I’ve seen a lot of potential students being walked through our Lake Shore campus, as have many students within there time here. Now that I’m a tour guide myself, I feel like I’ve become a more crucial part of this major step in the potential students’ lives.
Having done my first actual tour guide today with a group of high school students, I’ve been able to personally witness not only how eager the students seemed to be, but also how passionate I’ve become about this school. On the tour I was able to highlight a lot of great features about the school, including how eco-friendly we are, the plethora of our student groups and activities, as well as how we try to make a home for all faiths and backgrounds, and that’s something that I personally connect with. The fact that Loyola can offer a huge amount of resources as a university and can make every student make this campus their own home, is astounding and very admirable.
The more I talk about Loyola, the more I feel welcome here. From fraternities and sororities, to worship spaces for all faiths, to various Division-1 and intramural sports, to choir and theater, and everything in between, I have yet to meet an individual who hasn’t been able to find a group of like-minded people that share similar interests and undoubtedly welcome them into their social circle.
Even those who are afraid of figuring out how to get involved in various groups or clubs, incoming freshmen can be a part of a Learning Community, ranging from various topics such as a STEM majors, Leadership, Faith, as well as an International Learning Community where students can live with students from around the country as well as around the globe, and visit and view various festivals and neighborhoods around Chicago such as the Turkish Festival, the International Film Festival, or just visiting places such as Ukrainian Village or Chinatown, and experiencing the global cultures that Chicago has to offer.
Lu Wolf, LUC’s loveable mascot.
I’m very proud to say that I’ve been able to call Loyola home, and I know all of my friends feel the same exact way. I can proudly say I’m a Rambler, and I’m very much excited to see more incoming students faces, as well as profess how proud I am to say that I go to LUC.
