By Rebecca May

Dear Class of 2012,
My first semester at Loyola University Chicago was great! I had expected it to be really fun living in Chicago, but I loved it even more than I thought I would. Thank goodness technology made it easy for me to stay connected with my family at home, so the homesickness never got bad, which I was worried about.

Loyola is really cool because it is only about half an hour from downtown, so there is always a ton to do — whether I’m shopping, going to concerts, or ice skating at Millennium Park, I’m almost always downtown. You get what’s called a U-Pass, which gives you unlimited rides on the L (Chicago’s subway system) as well as city buses, so it is easy to get around, especially because there are two L stops on campus as well as multiple bus stops.

Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus is really pretty, because it’s located right on Lake Michigan, and the other campus is right in the heart of downtown. Having the lake definitely made me feel at home as a Florida girl, because it is so huge it looks just like the ocean. Although, the cold weather will quickly remind you that you’re far from Florida. But with the cold comes snow, which is awesome to see and completely transforms the campus.

Loyola has what’s called the “information commons,” which is a huge building just feet from the lake that is made of glass, where most people go to study. They have comfy chairs facing out over the lake, a group study rooms and tons of computers for students to use. There is also a cafe downstairs, so you don’t even have to leave to get food or a coffee to refuel.

Rebecca May, a freshman at Loyola University Chicago, graduated from Clearwater Central Catholic in 2011.