In Loyola’s halls, it’s an unfortunate, but not uncommon occurrence to hear students criticize trade schools and the entire idea of blue collar work. As a college preparatory school with a 99% matriculation rate to colleges, it seems to most that there is only one true path to success at Loyola: going to university. However, as a hopeful first generation college student myself, I understand university as an opportunity for self fulfillment, not as the only option for it.
In a world teeming with opportunities, I find it uncharacteristic to narrow mindedly close ourselves off to the countless professions allotted to us in the 21st century. With the foundation of a Loyola education, our opportunities are near limitless, and our future prospects should not rely on the false promise that college is simply the “next step”.
It seems that the primary impetus for Loyola’s college-minded culture is our similarly complex culture of competitiveness. While not inherently adverse, this culture at its worst consists of us profligating our grades as markers for our human worth. Moreover, with these grades we hold ourselves up against, we compete relentlessly to simply pay for the chance to study at what we consider a “prestigious” university. While it is easy to say and harder in practice, our culture of competitiveness should not be the determining factor for the rest of our lives. Especially as a Jesuit institution, I implore fellow cubs to use the process of Ignatian Discernment when pondering both our future careers and current standings. Furthermore, through the process of Discernment, we open ourselves up to true self fulfillment, not to just solely follow what has been outlined for us.
Undoubtedly, the circumstances in which we find ourselves today play an equally important role in deciding life beyond high school. With the advent of AI, it is an unfortunate reality that the jobs we will be trained to do will become obsolete by the time we truly enter them. Thus, I find it of pertinent importance, particularly in this transitory time of our lives to consider our passions and talents, not just resolving into the mindset of “I’ll major in business because that’s what Loyola students do.”
Just one of the many opportunities outside of high school Loyola students explore are the United States Military Academies. Providing an inherently different experience from traditional university life, it stands to reason that relying on “prestige” collapses when your personal motivations shine through
My simple hope is that the student reading this takes a minute to reflect on the vast world in front of them. Loyola is a small bubble in Los Angeles and ultimately, 4 incredible, yet simultaneously short years of our lives. In the consideration of our futures it is important to keep a flexible perspective willing to experience life’s challenges, changes, and charms.
