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The Prep Editor-in-Chief Charlie Power Thomas Murphy Moderator Ms. Katie Klein
EDITORIALS
Loyola Academy’s Oldest Organization Founded September 20, 1912
THE
Prep
1100 Laramie, Wilmette, Illinois 60091 Phone: 847-256-1100
Wednesday, May 10, 2017 Contributors
Maddie Geurrero, Kellie McCabe, Dean McNamara, Gianna D’Aloia, ALexis Stensby, Caroline Busch, Jake Jalloway, Billy Jardeleza, Bridget Asmoah-Baffour, Sabrina Taylor, Will Huber, Jake Marwede, Jimmy Alexopoulos, Jack Mayer, ALaina Mowinksi, Brian Vance, Mike MacGregor, Cassandra agyemang, Jack Badovinac, Margaret Hickey, Mary Dooley, Mithcell Deligio, Emily Devyor, Kylie Fronczak, Brady Reichert, Riley Harwood, and Charlie Cronin
A Letter from an Editor
A Letter from an Editor
I wish I had some inspired final words to say before I sign
I can’t exactly pinpoint when, but I distinctly remember walking into
off one last time. But I don’t. I have no deep wisdom to impart,
school one morning and doing a double take. There, just off the main
no Aaron Sorkin-esque speech to give. But I think that’s okay.
lobby, behind the statue of St. Ignatius, was a mural of Pope Francis
Loyola already provides us with plenty of opportunities to be inspired, and I’ve already offered plenty of unsolicited advice in my previous letters. So rather than being superficially insightful, I will use my final opportunity to write for this newspaper to thank
with the slick tagline: Transformational Leaders are Jesuit Educated. Not fully awake, I walked on, not thinking much of it until Ethics later that day. Once in class, we began an impromptu, vigorous discussion
those who have helped me along the way these past four years.
about the new poster, and whether it was “accurate.” In a convenient
To a select few in the Theology Department, congratulations,
coincedence, it related perfectly to article we were reading, an article
you have successfully indoctrinated me. It can’t be easy to teach
that questioned and challenged how Jesuit schools, Loyola included, use
North Shore teenagers about Catholic Social Teaching, but some-
the “Jesuit brand.” This brand, a term I use loosely, gets communicated
how you’ve gotten my attention and sold me on just about all of what you taught. Apart from the interesting and important topics, the culture of healthy dialogue you created in the classroom has helped me mature as a student more than any other
to us in what seems to be the unofficial vocab list: Magis, Solidarity, Finding God in All Things, Women and Men for Others. No school, no institution, is perfect, and at Loyola we often struggle to move beyond
class I’ve had. Thank you for being the best teachers at Loyola.
the ornamentation of these catchphrases. My Ethics class recognized
To the Classics Department, what you’ve taught me has be-
something was off that day, confused over whether that poster was a
come fundamental to the person I am. I know I was never the
realistic reflection of Loyola or little more than a clever marketing ploy.
best at translation or history or mythology or culture or art or
In my final letter, why do I mention this? I often think back to
most of the things taught in class, but my education would nev-
that day, for that debate in my Ethics class embodies both the prom-
er be complete without the Classics. Much of what I value is based on my time with you in and out of the classroom. I admire each of you for your passion, wit, and strong character. I am proud to call you teachers, role models, and fellow Classicists.
ise and peril of a Jesuit education. In almost every homily this year, Fr. McGrath has posed the question, “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”A fitting question to ask a senior,
To the Loyola Academy Administration, it’s been a ride.
and as these final weeks run out, I have found myself talking with my
We’ve disagreed sometimes about certain policies, but ulti-
friends and classmates about Loyola in general and the months ahead.
mately I can’t complain. Thank you for making Loyola a truly
I do not claim some deep revelation here, but in my mind, the
great school. Loyola offers endless opportunities to discov-
phrase “Jesuit Educated” takes on a counterintuitive nature. It is
er new passions and to be involved in the community. When
not what we learn in the classroom, or even looking at issues from a
I first came to Loyola, I could not have imagined traveling to Europe on the Classics Tour, racing for the crew team at Nationals, going on Kairos, or even writing for this newspaper. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to expand my inter-
Catholic perspective. While the importance of those aspects is not to be dismissed, the real benefit of the Jesuit model is that it attempts to ask to right questions. Who am I? What am I called to do? What
ests and helping me grow as a student, citizen, and Catholic.
is my relation to others? These questions can and must be asked in
Though Loyola is not without its faults, the teachers who are
the formative years, for they build our foundation. This type of edu-
invested in their subjects and students make everything worth-
cation attempts to begin us on the path of exploring such fundamen-
while. There are countless students and staff members who I wish
tal inquiry, a model that can be unique and challenging, if embraced.
to thank, but I’m running out of words. The bittersweet end to my high school career has finally arrived. Thank you all for reading over the years. I now look forward to joining those who have gone before me as we attempt to live our lives for the greater glory of God.
After four years, can I fully answer any of the questions posed earlier? The honest answer is no, but asking in the first place is what I believe it means to be Jesuit educated. And will any of us Jesuit-edu-
AMDG
cated become transformational leaders? Your guess is as good as mine.
Thomas Murphy
Charlie Power
Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief