By Kelly Silay – Class of 2012 & 2014
Until coming to Loyola, I had no idea what social justice was. I had never heard the term and certainly did not realize that such a concept existed. It never occurred to me that what Martin Luther King Jr. did in my history books at school, what Jesus did in the Gospel readings at church, and what John Lennon did through music on the radio all connected.
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What I did know was that the same feeling welled inside of me each time I heard, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character” and “”A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” and “Imagine all the people living life in peace / You may say I’m a dreamer / but I’m not the only one / I hope someday you’ll join us /And the world will be as one.”
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Over the past four years, I have been able to articulate this feeling as an instinctual devotion to social justice – to equality, empathy, and peace. During my time as an undergraduate at Loyola, I have been able to identify what social justice is and where it is needed in the world around me. For me, I found a meaning for social justice in Chicago’s schools. Through tutoring, mentoring, and teaching in the Chicago Public School system, I have come to understand through experience America’s education inequality crisis. I have been able to connect my experiences to what I have learned at Loyola, particularly what I have learned about poverty and racial inequality in Chicago, across America, and around the world.
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In experiencing, learning, and growing, I identified social justice for myself and identified where it is needed. Even more, I identified how I can create justice. My undergraduate experiences related to social justice have inspired me and directed me to a vocation in social work. To deepen my experiences with and knowledge of social justice, I will stay at Loyola after graduation to achieve my Master’s degree in social work. Not only am I excited and grateful to stay at Loyola, but I am also excited and grateful to deepen my understanding of and commitment to social justice as a student, social worker, and person.
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As my story will tell, Loyola inspires a commitment to social justice in all of its students. It inspires this same commitment in its faculty and staff as well. I hope you enjoyed my story of justice and will explore other stories featured in the “From Loyola” and “Student Voices” blogs. Your exploration will not only deepen Loyola’s promotion of justice, but also your own.
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Thank you for visiting this site and I wish you the best as you continue to explore social justice at Loyola, in yourself, and beyond.
A Growing Opportunity — Welcome to Social Justice at Loyola!
Loyola University Chicago's Social Justice Web Portal is designed to provide a positive environment for the Loyola community to discuss important issues and ideas. Differences of opinion are encouraged. We invite comments in response to posts and ask that you write in a civil and respectful manner. Comments will be screened for tone and content. All comments must include the first and last name of the author and a valid e-mail address. The appearance of comments on the Web Portal does not imply the University's endorsement or acceptance of views expressed.
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