Loyola University Chicago is unique and wonderful, and I thought I'd share with you a handful of reasons why I'm proud my school and attending Loyola. Onward to victory!

1. Bunnies!

There are always rabbits lurking around Loyola, even, apparently, in the dead of winter. They just can’t get enough -- and, well, neither can we students.

2. Student Organizations

Our variety of groups, clubs, teams, and organizations is nothing short of impressive -- from service frats to a hardworking pep band, Quidditch to Karate Club, NCAA volleyball to Students for Free Palestine, Mock Trial to Classics Club, you can’t not find something you’re interested in extracurricularly (unless you’re being horribly stubborn and purposefully not looking). And, if you wanted to be that way and start a "Stubbornly Blind Person’s Club," you can do that, and it won’t be too much hassle! Go for it!

3. Jesuit Education and Jesuits on Campus

It doesn’t sound like much -- who even are the Jesuits, some ask -- but the Jesuit education we all receive by attending here gives us reason to be proud of ourselves and our school. We focus not only on ourselves, but on our peers and our community as a whole, and certain Jesuit traditions like the daily examen help us grow and learn. And what’s college for, if not that?

4. Sister Jean

There’s honestly nobody who loves Loyola like Sister Jean does, and that love is infectious. She’s been with us for years and years, and that loyalty is more than commendable -- it’s admirable, and it makes us love Loyola all the more with her as a part.

5. Dorms

You might be thinking: What the heck? The dorms at Loyola are a reason to love it? Well, yeah. Complain all you want, but you can’t disagree that our dorms are significantly better than some housing available at other schools. Even Mertz, the freshmen res hall with the worst reputation (except for, well, this year and San Fran) creates a unique sort of community and bonds that has them all shouting "Mertz till it hurts!" while the rest of us slowly clap and back away. My point is, it could be worse. There’s not even gender-specific res halls!

6. Location

Chicago, Chicago, Chicago. What else is there to say? We’re in the heart of the USA, the glittering jewel that is a little suspicious sometimes and has a sordid past, but is shiny and beautiful regardless. Not to mention what surrounds Loyola more closely -- BopNGrill, Chipotle, Summer, Lickety Split, the list goes on and on.

7. Focus on service

Loyola’s required Service Learning classes, as well as the other ways we constantly are giving back to the community, like Loyola4Chicago or the soup kitchen expeditions, are just a few ways that demonstrate our mission of caring for others like nowhere else. We even have a chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service frat, working as hard as they can to be very active in giving back. We make a difference where we are, and that’s definitely a reason to be proud.

8. Mysteries

Everyone likes a good puzzle, and Loyola’s got a fair few of our own. Were there really tunnels between all the buildings at one point? Is the crypt as haunted as they say? Is the top floor of Mundelein actually haunted? Have students really gone missing from the stacks after going to investigate spooky free-falling books? Loyola is not the oldest or the most mysterious college out there, but we have enough ghost stories and mysteries to keep the interest afloat -- and that makes us interesting, and we’re happy to be so.

9. Opportunities for Student Work

As with all campuses, you won’t go hurting for a job if you need one here. The dining halls are all staffed by Aramark employees, which is a good thing if you were afraid your middle-school enemy who goes to Loyola will spit in your food, or a bad thing if you join the Workers Rights group here on campus and learn what they’re saying. Some of the most popular places to work are the undergraduate admission office, the Information Commons, and, actually, as a lab or research assistant in your field of study. All of those opportunities mean interaction with different groups and meaningful work, so there’s nothing mindless to it! Huzzah!

10. Campus Beauty

You’re sorely mistaken if you thought I wasn’t going to bring this up! Our campus, despite years of construction, has never looked so good or been so upgraded. We went from having just Dumbach a hundred years ago to now having such great facilities as Damen Student Center and the Information Commons. Our gardeners also do excellent work with the flowers and landscaping, and there are just magnificent views from Palm Court or Halas. It’s the spirit of the students and the beauty of knowledge (or something like that) that makes it so gorgeous in all seasons and weathers.

As the popular meme and some religious groups (including Jesuits) would say, @god thx. These are just an assortment of reasons to love Loyola -- if you have more, feel free to leave a comment below or share on social media and add them!