Your Loyola Story: Staring at a Blank Page? Start With Your Unique Experience

As a Loyola student, you have something worth sharing that does not depend on a polished thesis or an intricate knowledge of Jesuit history. Maybe you’ve already been asked, “What are you liking about college?” Maybe you’ve found a sense of belonging and community here, discovered a new passion, or started asking questions you hadn’t considered before. Whatever your experience has been so far, there’s no single way to reflect on it in the context of Loyola’s Jesuit heritage. This November, you’re invited to turn your experience into a reflection for the University Libraries Jesuit Heritage Month Writing Contest! 

The University’s mission is to serve as Chicago’s Jesuit Catholic university, a diverse community seeking God in all things and working to expand knowledge in the service of humanity through learning, justice, and faith. These commitments encourage us to push our understanding of how we engage with the world around us. The Jesuit Heritage Month writing contest offers an opportunity to explore just that in whatever type of writing you want. And don’t worry, you don’t need to write an extensive history of Jesuit institutions or align with some “right” answer; this is about hearing from you as a student. 

Where Do You Start?

Follow a question. Sitting down with a blank page can be the most discouraging part of writing, but you don’t have to do this alone. Start with a smaller thought: a memory, a question, or an experience that has stuck with you. Try one of these to get the ideas flowing:

• Zoom in on a moment: When have you felt you belong, are supported, or are part of a community here?
• Stay curious: Is there something about Loyola’s Jesuit tradition that you’ve come to appreciate, question, or want to understand better?

What’s important here is that you discover a form of writing and expression that feels right to you, whether that’s a short story, a longer story, a prayer, or a poem; it’s important you find what speaks to you from here. 

Two other tips, visit the Cudahy Library’s Jesuit Literature Display on the 1st floor for inspiration and look into The Writing Center for help if you still feel stumped.

How to Enter:

• Who: Loyola students
• What: A reflection on why Loyola’s Jesuit heritage is personally meaningful to you
• Format: Essay, prayer, story, poem, or another suitable form of written expression
• Length: One page maximum, double-spaced
• Submission period: November 1–30, 2026
• Award: Rambler Bucks for first-place and runner-up selections
• Winners announced: December 2026
• Questions? Contact us at Libraries@luc.edu
• Ready to enter? Submit your reflection here!

Don’t forget to share your reflection by November 30!

By Saebella Sanders, rising freshman