VOICES
A Tri-Continental Experience of Alpha Sigma Nu JOSÉ ARANDA ÁLVAREZ (Loyola Andalucia ’16)
It was May 2016 when I first
had any idea of the culture of
heard of A∑N. I received an
this country. However, thanks
e-mail explaining that I had
to A∑N, I was able to get
been selected to something
involved in the chapter. This
called an ‘honor society,’ a
changed my whole experience
concept that I was learning
there. It was in Korea where I
for the first time in my life.
understood the power of the
As a first-generation student of
organization’s online Member
Universidad Loyola Andalusia
Directory. At the same time,
(Spain), this organization was
it was very beautiful to see that
totally different than anything
even when the activities held by
I encountered before. Little
this chapter were very different
did I know then how important
from what I saw in the U.S.,
A∑N would be for my
we all shared the same ideals
upcoming future.
that A∑N bears.
Just months after, I was honored
When the summer arrived,
to be inducted into A∑N at
I applied for a Seelos Grant
Marquette University, where
that A∑N offers for attending
I was studying abroad. Being so
the National Jesuit Student
close to the A∑N Central Office,
Leadership Conference which
also at Marquette, gave me the
was hosted by Georgetown
chance to get closer to the
University. This week at George-
society and understand its
town, with student leaders from a
worldwide character and
variety of campus organizations
mission. From the start, I
all around the U.S., would later
quickly fell in love with the
be very helpful as I arrived back
Jesuit ideals that A∑N
at Loyola Andalusia’s campus.
promotes, and I was excited
Since the A∑N chapter at
to learn more about it.
Loyola Andalusia had only been running for one year, I decided
After the U.S., I got to go to
to join the Executive Team to
Sogang University (Seoul, Rep.
try to give back all I received
of Korea) for another study
from A∑N. During that academic
abroad experience. In Korea,
year, I was happy to share with
I got to fully see the beauty of this organization. As a
/ ALPHA SIGMA NU / 2019
during my tri-continental
foreigner in such a different
experience with A∑N and to
culture it was not easy to
in some way do my bit in laying
get along with Korean
the foundation of the first
students; I was only
European chapter of the
there for a few months,
Jesuit honor society, inspired
I did not speak their
by its American and Asian
language, and I barely
4
the chapter everything I learned
counterparts.
