Reflecting on Jesuit Education

During the feast of St. Ignatius on July 30, the opening night of the National Jesuit Student Leadership Conference in Seattle, the president of Seattle University, Stephen V. Sundborg, S.J., gave the keynote address. After being up for 16 hours and crossing three time zones, I was a little tired to say the least and was not excited to listen to a speaker. But Fr. Steve surprised me by opening up my eyes to a completely different concept of spirituality.

Fr. Steve took the time to carefully describe that discovering one’s spirituality is a long journey one partakes in over the course of a lifetime. Spirituality, according to him, is not just about religion; it is care of the entire person, or what Jesuits call Cura Personalis. Taking the time every day — not just once in a while — to reflect and look inward upon oneself in an effort to learn about who you are, why you have become that way, and where and how you want to direct your life in the future is critical in developing yourself as a human being. As Fr. Steve explained, the ability to do this every day, just as the Jesuits do, can greatly enhance what you get out of life and what you can give to others. By embracing the concept of Cura Personalis, this allows people to dive deeper into their own spirituality and, thus, enjoy a deeper understanding of their life’s purpose.

Spirituality is like the world around us, forever changing. Certain things in life can change your entire perspective. That is why it is so critical to take the time — as much time as possible — to reflect on your experiences because they will forever shape your spirituality.

As I was listening to Fr. Steve speak about this, it occurred to me that as a member of the Holy Cross community and head resident assistant in Mulledy, I am continually asked to reflect back upon my experiences and see how those might guide me in the future. It has taken a hold in my life, this sense of spirituality. Through a variety of experiences offered, Holy Cross has been pushing me to become the best person I can be. Sometimes it takes an off-campus experience like the National Jesuit Student Leadership Conference to appreciate what type of education Holy Cross provides.

Today, I realize that I have the best sense of self I have ever had in my life. Every day, whether it is writing in my journal or just going for a run to mull over the day’s events, I am exploring how my experiences will help shape who I want to become. I hope that in my remaining two years at Holy Cross, I will be able to help others feel the same way about the Jesuit education they are receiving and just how special it is.

Shea Sennett ’10 is a mathematics major from Goffstown, N.H.