Student: Emma Marfia
Emma Marfia
she/her
Class of 2028 - Elementary Education, with Teaching Reading & Theatre Minors
Where are you from?
Leesburg, Virginia
What do you like to do?
Spend time with friends (going on fun little adventures), Staying Active (I love swimming, running, and hiking), Read (I am currently reading Sunrise on the Reaping!), and doing Arts and Crafts of any kind!
How are you involved in Community Service & Action?
I am a leader for the St. Thomas of Canterbury Soup Kitchen program and have been volunteering there since the start of my freshman year!
Why do you engage in the community?
I’ve always loved community service and being able to give back. Yet in Chicago I found something I didn’t know I was even missing, a community. Meeting and actually talking to others has taught me a lot about my life and the world around me. I’ve learned valuable lessons from others, especially the guests of the St. Thomas Soup Kitchen. It is also just so fulfilling to get to give back to the community.
What is one of your favorite stories from your community engagement experiences?
One of my favorite moments was the first soup kitchen back from break my freshman year. It had been a little over a month since I had volunteered, and I thought that a lot of the guests would forget who I was. Yet when I came back I had so many guests come up to me excitedly asking where I had been and that they were happy to see me back. A lot of them asked me how my classes were going and how my life in Virginia was. This just showed me how amazing the community at the Soup Kitchen is and how even when we don’t think we’ve made an impact we really have. It is also just a special feeling to know others care about how you are and care enough to remember the little things!
CSA’s motto is “See the Good. Be the Good.” How do you understand or engage that concept?
I see goodness everywhere I look here at Loyola, whether that is through my amazing friends, my peers, or my fellow volunteers! I see good in the people who put their best foot forward in everything they do. Every day I get to talk to people who are kind, caring individuals that aim to put a smile on others faces. Seeing all this goodness around me inspires me to be a better person every day!
How are you involved at Loyola outside of CSA?
I am apart of many other Loyola Organizations and hold different leadership positions for many of those clubs! I am the President-Elect for the Future Teachers Club, The Vice President of the Club Swim Team and recently have been appointed Director of Philanthropy for my sorority Alpha Delta Pi.
What is your favorite place on campus?
My favorite place on campus is the Cudahy Library; I spend so much time there doing schoolwork and catching up with friends, I find it very warm and comforting!
What tips do you have for building and maintaining community in college?
Don’t be afraid to try new things and just keep showing up! Building a community takes time so by continually showing up you will find your community come naturally to you. Everyone is in the same position at one point or another during college, you are not alone! College is a great time to try new things and explore interests so don’t be afraid to try new things and go to that club that you’ve never heard of before!
Where have you found Loyola’s mission alive in your time at Loyola?
I find it every day wherever I look! Whether that is my wonderful friends who show me so much love and support, or my amazing professors who work endlessly to push us to be the best students we can be! My time at Loyola has taught me to never settle with what I know and to always continue seeking knowledge and demanding justice in the world.
What makes you most excited for the upcoming semester?
I am so excited to be back on campus with all my friends and peers and spend time with all those I didn’t see over break! I am very excited to be able to get back into my routines and get to go to soup kitchen every week and see all the guests I missed!
What advice would you give to an incoming student at Loyola?
Try everything! Both Loyola and the city of Chicago have so much to offer! Take advantage of all the fun events Loyola hosts (and the free stuff), but also don’t be afraid to go exploring in the city and off campus. There truly is something for everyone here.