I strive for a sense of tenacity or resolve to run through all that I do. I work very hard to meet personal goals and push myself to set my own standards. This is most clear in my work with Advocate, the LGBT student group I help run at Loyola. In the past, the group has been disorganized and isolated, with members feeling disconnected and ostracized on a Catholic campus. For the past two years, I have worked with my peers to meet these challenges through planning meetings and events that cultivate community, while simultaneously reaching out to university administrators. We have had a lot of success through researching social theory and queer history, and then using that knowledge to plan events that both educate and provide a sense of tradition for students. This type of work requires a constant level of engagement that can be draining at times. This will be my second year helping to oversee an entire month of diverse LGBT programming for the university, with events ranging from celebratory dances to political discussions. In the past planning for this month has included working closely with university officials, including meeting regularly with Jesuit community members who have been critical of our queer student programming. The ability of Advocate students to keep pushing through these busy days is what makes this programming possible. I know that these experiences have prepared me well for my graduate studies and eventual career in the academy.

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