Student: Ella Cedeno
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Ella Cedeno
she/ her
Sophmore
Major/ Minor:
Major in Public Health and Minor in Dance
Where are you from?
Park Ridge, Illinois
What do you like to do?
I love dancing, reading, being outdoors, hiking, and traveling! I am naturally a very spontaneous person, so I love doing anything at any time!
How are you involved in Community Service & Action?
At the beginning of my freshman year, I was involved in Saturday of Service and helped with beach cleanup. Throughout my freshman year, I was involved with Loyola4Chicago, where I volunteered at Misericordia for both semesters. Now, as an incoming sophomore, I have been hired as the Student Worker for Community Service and Action, and I plan to continue volunteering through L4C.
Why do you engage in the community?
There are so many fulfilling benefits to being a part of CSA. For starters, being able to build meaningful connections, not just with peers a part of CSA but also the people that we meet at different volunteering sites, creates a sense of belonging for myself and everyone included. In addition, the skills I have gained, the personal self-growth I have endured, and the ability to create significant, long-lasting changes in someone's life makes the experience so rewarding.
What is one of your favorite stories from your community engagement experiences?
It wasn't one particular story, but I would say a huge highlight for me was my second semester at Misericordia during my freshman year. My L4C group and I assisted with Group Sports and it was genuinely something I looked forward to every week. It was typically either track or soccer, and most of the time, we actually got to play soccer with them, which was extremely fun! Everyone was competitive and motivated to win, yet everyone was so encouraging towards each other. There was zero hostility and only positivity! It would literally brighten my day.
CSA’s motto is “See the Good. Be the Good.” How do you understand or engage that concept?
The more people begin to recognize the goodness around us, the more likely people are to create it for themselves. "See the Good" means noticing the positivity in the world through people's actions, situations, and simply just everyday life. The more you notice the good, the more you recognize kindness and strength in people and nature, and ultimately the more grateful and positive you become. "Be the Good" means doing your part to add more kindness and positivity to the world. Instead of waiting for someone to make a difference, you instead take the responsibility of being kind, treating people with respect, and offering help out of the goodness of your heart.
How are you involved at Loyola outside of CSA?
Outside of CSA, I am a Retreat Leader for Campus Ministry, a Rambler Representative, and I'm involved in Public Health Club, AMDG, Christian Life Community, Caribbean Student Union, and Black Student Union.
What is your favorite place on campus?
Anywhere along Lake Michigan, but specifically right outside of Madonna Della Strada.
What tips do you have for building and maintaining community in college?
Do not be afraid to talk to anybody! Everyone is just as nervous to start college as you are, so take the leap and talk to any and everybody! Compliment someone's outfit, talk to the people around you in classes, join clubs and connect with people, go to DOP events and just sit at a random table with people you have never talked to before. Chances are, everyone is just looking to make friends but are too afraid to put themselves out there, so you be the one to do it! People will admire you for it and genuinely want to continue being your friend.
What makes you most excited for the upcoming semester?
There is so much I am excited about! I am thrilled to start my job as the CSA Student Worker, and I'm also really excited to start my work as a Campus Ministry Retreat Leader. Additionally, I'm looking forward to beginning to take classes for my major and just getting to meet more new people!
What advice would you give to an incoming student at Loyola?
Don't be afraid to try new things, especially alone! People have this fear that they need to do something with someone at all times - whether that is eating in the dining hall, joining a club, going to an event, going to the gym, etc. - but in reality, you grow out of your comfort zone the more you get comfortable doing things alone. I promise no one is judging you! You experience so much self-growth and find yourself more independent the more you get and the less you seek validation from others. It is very rewarding.