😄 I went to an Illinois Students for Life Conference

[redbetta]

So I’m a freshman and just joined my school’s SFL chapter. I’ve never been to a conference for anything in my life. I attended the conference at Loyola University. I was accepted there but did not want to go because I’ve been through Catholic schools all my life and I did not want to go to a disappointingly nominal school. Plus, you know what they say about Jesuit schools. Well, a Jesuit priest gave a great talk on the philosophy of personhood and how to use it in defense of life and I could not help but to think that it’s sad that Jesuits get such a bad rap because of a few cranks out there.

Vicki Thorn founder of Project Rachel gave a talk which I’ve found to be the most informative. But Jay Watt’s talk on arguing for the pro-life side was also good and he’s a great character. There was a former PP employee. There were also tables all around with information. But what struck me the most is all the devout Catholics around me. I don’t think I’ve met a handful of orthodox Catholics in my life and it was hard to believe that they actually exist beyond CAF. But they were so concentrated here that it was like a dream.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my experience because this site can be very depressing and we need something nice no matter how small to read.

 

[JD1789]

Thanks for sharing! Keep up with attending conferences and retreats. It has certainly enriched the faith of many people searching for the community that should be widespread in our Church.

 

[balto]

I’m really glad to hear this . I remember a couple of months ago you were really nervous about going to college and were worried that you were going to lose your faith there. Keep hanging around these Students for Life members because they will give you the moral support that you’ll really want. And we really need moral support in the pro-life community. About 3 years ago I had a similar experience at a conference and it reinvigorated my faith and gave me a solid group of orthodox Catholics to associate with. That conference you went to sounds really awesome. You have succeeded in making me jealous of you .

I hope the rest of your college experience has been positive so far and that you have settled down into a comfortable routine .

 

[Petaro]

Anyway, I just wanted to share my experience because this site can be very depressing and we need something nice no matter how small to read.

Excellent that you learnt much and experienced the joy of being with good people. Hard to find en masse, but often found in groups protecting the innocent. Keep it up!

 

[redbetta]

I’m really glad to hear this . I remember a couple of months ago you were really nervous about going to college and were worried that you were going to lose your faith there. Keep hanging around these Students for Life members because they will give you the moral support that you’ll really want. And we really need moral support in the pro-life community. About 3 years ago I had a similar experience at a conference and it reinvigorated my faith and gave me a solid group of orthodox Catholics to associate with. That conference you went to sounds really awesome. You have succeeded in making me jealous of you .

I hope the rest of your college experience has been positive so far and that you have settled down into a comfortable routine .

Well, the rest of my college experience has not been so great. I’ve barely any time to do anything other than homework and study. The classes here are like a dagger in the gut to the brightest people. Actually, earlier this week as I walked back into my dorm, one of my floor mates was being led out by two cops in handcuffs. I learned later that she had a mental breakdown from the stress and may or may not return here.

 

[balto]

Well, the rest of my college experience has not been so great. I’ve barely any time to do anything other than homework and study. The classes here are like a dagger in the gut to the brightest people. Actually, earlier this week as I walked back into my dorm, one of my floor mates was being led out by two cops in handcuffs. I learned later that she had a mental breakdown from the stress and may or may not return here.

Well that’s unfortunate, but it is somewhat common for the first semester freshmen to feel a lot of pressure because they’re trying to get a bunch of people that are coming from disparate high school educations up to a common introductory level, so sometimes people that performed extraordinarily with little effort in high school suddenly are suddenly having a lot of difficulty performing at this higher level. A friend of mine had a bit of a breakdown over course overload in the spring for which he was receiving professional help but seems to have gotten under control over the summer. I’ve been dealing with a lot of end of grad school stress myself. It gets better after the first semester and first year more generally since everyone’s at the same level and is familiar with the amount of work needed to do well. The Students for Life are probably good mentors for academic things also, which is another great reason that you’ve found a home there. You didn’t mention roommate issues so I am hoping that is not a problem . I will continue to pray for your well-being .