As a mom of a newly graduated high school senior, the summer has been one of transition, and college for my son begins in September. Along with all of the feelings and changes my friends and I are experiencing, we have also been attending college orientations over the summer.

My son is attending a Jesuit University about an hour away from where we live. We are not Catholic but have always heard about the Jesuits being such amazing educators. Everything about this university seemed to be a good match for our son  for the next phase in his journey. Many of our close friends are graduates of this school and have raved about how it affected their lives. When we went to orientation, I was amazed by what I heard and learned about the Jesuit tradition and how they teach their students at this university. I could write pages about it- I actually took copious notes as I was so surprisingly engaged.  I feel compelled to share just a few of the highlights about their teaching approach and values as it is all so different from anything I ever experienced in my formal education:

1. The Curriculum emphasizes engaged and experiential learning, civic life, and social justice. They promote the development of Conscience, Competence and Compassion (the three C’s) to prepare students to work toward a more humane, just, and sustainable world. The faculty integrates this vision of educating for competence, conscience, and compassion into all their courses.
2. Students are there to explore: What gives me joy? What are my gifts and passions? How can I serve others?
3. Gifts + Privilege = Responsibility. Will you use your gifts and privilege to live ethically? Will you use your gifts and privilege to make the world a better place? Will you be a part of the problem or the solution? How do we want to BE in the world?

I was so taken with these concepts because I feel they are so applicable and relevant to every one of us and are keys to discovering how we can live an authentic and fulfilling life.  I had to become an adult and do quite a bit of soul searching, volunteer work and a number of personal growth workshops before I realized that this is much of what life is about!  Of course, I am still working on it. What an amazing opportunity my son has to begin to learn this at such a young age. These are issues I work on with my coaching clients all the time…. find your joy, discover your gifts and passions, how can you serve? How can you have compassion, even for yourself?  How amazing that this is being introduced to 18 year olds! I am so grateful and feel a sense of relief. I keep telling my son how lucky he is. I don’t think he really gets it but I trust that at some point he will.