Loyola University Chicago

Community Service & Action

Division of Mission Integration

Student: Sarah LaVanway

 

 

Name: Sarah LaVanway 

Year in School: Junior 

Major: Theology, Political Science 

Minor: Catholic Studies 

 

About You: 

Where are you from? 

I am from the northern suburbs of Illinois. 

What do you like to do? 

I love doing yoga, reading, listening to podcasts, hiking, and rock climbing! 

My Community Service & Action Experience: 

How are you involved in Community Service & Action? 

I was a Summer Social Justice Dialogue Group and am currently in the LUC Serve Mentor program. 

Why do you engage in the Community? 

I engage in Community Service and Action to build community, broaden my perspective on the world, and equip myself with the tools to work toward greater justice in my communities.  

What is one of your favorite stories from your community engagement experiences? 

One of my favorite experiences was attending an LUC Serve session on how members of the Loyola community were working to address the COVID-19 pandemic in Chicago. It filled me with a lot of hope that students have the power to affect positive change in our local community. 

How do you envision living out the call to “Build the Greater Good” after you graduate? 

I want to study religion at the masters and PhD level in the hopes of helping to build a more equitable, just, and peaceful Christian community through my scholarship and service.  

 

Being a Rambler: 

How are you involved at Loyola outside of CSA? 

Outside of CSA, I work at the Writing Center, teach yoga in Halas, serve as a teaching assistant in the Theology Department, and serve as a Christian Life Community leader. 

What makes you most excited for this school year? 

I am most excited about my work as a Teaching Assistant in the Theology Department. Not only it is helping me discern my vocation, but I also get to meet lots of new Loyola students and learn more about the Theology community. 

What advice would you give to an incoming Loyola student? 

I would suggest not being afraid to change directions! I came into Loyola as a Social Work major but, after absolutely loving my first theology class, I completely switched trajectories.