Narrative Reflection

If I were to meet the woman who entered Loyola University Chicagos Higher Education
graduate program today, I do not think that I would recognize her. The past two years have been
a transformative experience allowing me to engage in critical self-reflection and learn and grow
in a supportive yet challenging environment. I attribute my growth to the courses I have taken,
the relationships I have built, and the professional experiences I have gained. While I recognize
that my learning is not finished when I walk across the commencement stage, I am so grateful
that this program has provided me the foundation to be successful in the field.
Academic Coursework
When I began my coursework at Loyola, I couldve never imagined the impact that my
classes would have on me both personally and professionally. As a first year student, I explored
the history of higher education, social justice, research methods, and student development theory.
As a second year student, I have had the ability to delve into leadership theory in both Chicago
and Rome, learn the necessary tools of evaluation and assessment, and investigate organization
and governance through a higher education lens. All of these experiences have been beneficial,
providing me the resources and capacities to work successfully with students and professionals
in various roles and environments.
When thinking about my most impactful learning experiences, I immediately reflect on
my experiences within Multiculturalism for Social Justice, Leadership in Higher Education, and
Organization and Governance. Through the Multiculturalism for Social Justice course, I
engaged in critical self-reflection and self- perspective taking which allowed me to fully
understand how society operates and how I fit within the realms of privilege and oppression.

This was the first course that connected me to what it meant to be a social justice educator and
how I could cultivate a holistic experience for each of my students.
Though student development theory is critical to the work that we do as Student Affairs
professionals, I found that engaging with leadership theory was more enjoyable for me.
Leadership was a concept that I thought I understood until navigating its concepts and theories
with Dr. John Dugan. My first experience with leadership was in Rome, Italy, where I was able
to apply what we were learning to a different country and culture. This experience was
indescribable, and I feel that I learned more in two weeks than I often do in an entire semester.
Thankfully, I was able to continue to engage with leadership concepts and theories the following
semester, where my learning continued. Following these courses, I am able to view leadership
through a different lens and confidently utilize theory in my work.
Organization and Governance, in which I am currently enrolled, is a different experience
than the other courses. While the social justice and leadership courses provide concepts that can
be utilized with and for students, this course has given me the tools I need to navigate the field of
higher education as a professional. The case studies and content that is being covered will help
me as I begin my professional journey and as I take on new roles within the field.
These courses, among the many others, have been both challenging and rewarding. One
of the experiences that I am most grateful for is my ability to apply my coursework to my
professional roles as I am engaging in the learning process. Having the ability to work and learn
at the same time has increased my professional competencies and insured that I am putting my
learning to practice.
Professional Growth through Practice

When I began my journey at Loyola University Chicago, I was the graduate assistant for
student organizations within the department of Student Activities & Greek Affairs. I was blessed
with an amazing supervisor and staff that were committed to my growth and development. As a
graduate student, I was given autonomy and trust which allowed me to build self-efficacy as a
professional. This self-efficacy and my love for the work that I was doing, gave me the
confidence to apply for a full-time position within the department when it opened in September.
Having worked full-time in Student Activities & Greek Affairs for the last six months, I
have navigated different aspects of the department and institution while negotiating what I want
and need as a professional and graduate student. I have been pushed out of my comfort zone by
my fellow staff members, mentors, and students as I continue to take on new projects and
experiences. I have learned that no two days will be the same when working in student
activities, and that flexibility is integral to success in my role. I have recognized the importance
for evaluation and assessment and implemented it in the work that I do. Most importantly, I
have learned that cultural competence amongst students, staff, and faculty is a privilege and that
we must educate and advocate for change in the environments and institutions we work in.
Advocating for Social Justice
When I applied to Loyola, I knew that social justice was an important value of the
institution and the coursework. However, social justice was not something that I really
understood or that was salient to my experience. Holding multiple privileged identities, I was so
accustomed to societal norms that I could have never anticipated how transformative my journey
would be. Having completed the Multicultural for Social Justice course and worked
professionally at a Jesuit institution, social justice is now embedded in everything that I do. My
change in perspective and my ability to navigate my own intersectionality has made me a better

professional as I work with students from diverse backgrounds. I am now able to challenge
systemic norms with and for my students, as we continue to learn together.
As we often say in the classroom, now that I have learned about social justice and
addressed it in all areas of my coursework and professional role, I will never be able to take off
my social justice hat. I know that regardless of where my career takes me, I will be thinking
about how I can be culturally competent, educate students about social justice and their role
within it, and engage in this work for social change. Over the last two years, this is where I have
seen the most personal growth.
Personal Growth
Words cannot describe how I feel about this chapter of life coming to an end. These past
two years have been the most difficult, yet also the most rewarding. I have been frustrated,
confused, scared, motivated, and optimistic. I have met individuals who have challenged my
beliefs, allowed me to challenge theirs, stood with me through my failures, and celebrated my
successes. I have learned concepts and tangible skills that will aid me in the field, but most
importantly, I have learned about myself. I have spent the last two years exploring my identities
and engaging in self-reflection about what type of person and professional I want to become. I
know that the tools that my graduate work has provided will continue to influence the work that I
do and am hopeful that I will make Loyola University Chicago proud as I continue to advance in
the field.