The inspiration I felt from participating in my own "Urban Immersion" Start The Fire retreat combined with my positive experince as an L4C volunteer and leader in the Center for Community Service & Action pushed me to lead a Start The Fire retreat at the beginning of my sophomore year. I applied and earned a position as leader of the CSA's "Community Service Retreat" through the Start the Fire program for incoming freshman.

Being a leader definitely changed the experience, but there is no doubt that this STP retreat was just as rewarding. We did service work throughout the city and ate meals from different ethnicities for every meal so we could completely enjoy Chicago's diversity. Developing relationships with the incoming freshman and answering their countless questions about Loyola reminded me of how I was in their position only 1 year ago and how much my life had changed in that short time span. I was so excited to see them grow, and I love seeing each of the participants on campus and taking advantage of all the opportunities both the university and the city have to offer.

Above is a picture of a few Start The Fire participants and myself chopping onions to cook dinner at St. Thomas of Canterbury Soup Kitchen off the Lawrence "L" stop in Chicago.