First-year students are feted as the new kids on campus, juniors seize the role of emerging leaders or go abroad, and seniors spend the year in celebration and preparation for what lies ahead. Sophomore year? It could easily be called “the forgotten year.” Yet it is a pivotal time when students must choose a major, decide whether to study abroad as juniors, and deal with the emotional turmoil of changing relationships with friends and parents.

Loyola’s Sophomore Initiatives department guides second-year students through this decisive period with programs focused on self-reflection and discernment. Sophomore programming is still unique in the university setting; Loyola is one of only a handful of institutions in the country to have a department of this kind. Between 30 to 34 percent of Loyola’s sophomore class participates in one of the optional programs, whether an off-campus retreat or a casual, on-campus discussion group.

“Sophomore year is a great time to introduce young people to the concept of discernment and give them the tools they need to understand God’s calling and their path in life,” said Michelle Cheatem, director of Sophomore Initiatives.

Here, three students discuss their Sophomore Initiatives experiences.

Shauna Berube, ’11

When Shauna Berube entered her sophomore year she found herself in what she describes as a “toxic living situation”—a common concern for sophomores—and was not meeting enough new people on campus. Then she saw a sign for a Mystery Bus event, where sophomores pay $5 for a bus ride to a secret destination. Five bucks later she found herself at a haunted house with several classmates she hadn’t met. After several more outings she chose to attend Road Trip, a retreat in Pennsylvania that focuses on helping sophomores uncover their talents and what brings them joy.

“Road Trip was the best thing I ever did at school because it is all about you and finding your purpose,” she said. “If you discover that in your sophomore year, you can continue to grow over the next two years of your college life.”
Berube says she feels she’s leaving her sophomore year a different person. She moved out of her room and found a great roommate situation for next year. She has also found a new passion in community service work and Koinania, a faith-based discussion group through Campus Ministry.

Cassie Wilkinson, ’10

Cassie Wilkinson almost didn’t make it to her sophomore year at Loyola—she was going to transfer after freshman year. Then she heard about Ad Infinitum, a sophomore living community operated by the office of student life and Sophomore Initiatives that helps students meet people and build authentic relationships. Through Ad Infinitum Wilkinson participated in an autumn retreat that helped students build relationships and discover their talents. Through casual monthly meetings on the hall and special outings such as Mystery Bus, Wilkinson met new people and made more friends.

Through the Ad Infinitum experience, Wilkinson received affirmation that her chosen career path—teaching—fit with her personality profile. She also learned to be more accepting of others for their strengths, even if they are different from her own. She returned as a junior to be a guide on the retreat. “We can give the kids the resources they need to make these decisions instead of being freaked out all the time!” she said.

Greg Simons, ’08

Greg Simons thought he had it all figured out, but halfway through his sophomore year he realized he had switched his major three times and was flying by the seat of his pants. Thanks to mentoring from Loyola staff, he found the right path. He jumped at the chance to offer that same mentoring to sophomores as a Road Trip leader.

“The most miraculous thing about Road Trip is that whether you’re a faculty member, a student leader, or a student participant, everyone goes through it, everyone answers the questions and does the reflections,” he said. “For me, it was beneficial because I saw the students grow, and it solidified that I wanted to work in higher ed.”

Now a residence hall director at LeMoyne College, Simons is building a sophomore program called Intermission, based on Loyola’s Sophomore Initiatives model. Sophomore programming not only serves as a resource for students, but it dovetails with the holistic mission of Jesuit institutions, Simons said. “Programs like Road Trip give students a chance to be reflective and discover their personal journeys, which is the cornerstone of any Jesuit education.”