One year ago, I was in the process of making one of the most significant and difficult decisions of my life so far.
As a high school senior, I was busy filling out applications to colleges, writing scholarship essays, visiting schools, and attempting to weigh a variety of universities side by side. As one may guess, I chose Mount St. Joseph. One of the many aspects of Mount St. Joseph that appealed to me is its commitment to the idea of “Climbing Higher”–-a striking concept emphasized at my high school.
I am from Cincinnati, and I went to St. Xavier high school, where I was drawn to and surrounded by the institution's commitment to the magis; the final article I wrote for the “Blueprint”–the school newspaper–before graduating was on the very topic of how St. X promotes this idea of striving for the magis.
Literally, magis, means “more” in Latin, and is a challenge to push yourself, to achieve more, to go the extra mile–-to not settle for “good enough.” For four years, I was encouraged to pursue more academically, socially, in extracurricular activities. Under this attitude of giving your best effort and of pushing yourself, I thrived at St. X, excelling in the classroom, leading clubs, and making enduing friendships–all while preparing myself for college. The idea of the magis is driving all of this; the teachers, administration, and the student body all played an active role in supporting each other to achieve more and grow. “Climbing Higher” is to the Mount what the magis was to St. X.
I can distinctly remember from my various tours of the Mount noticing the phrase “Climbing Higher” all over campus. From t-shirts to the expansive mural in the cafeteria, the college immediately went up a notch in my head as I made the connection. I anticipated-–hoped for-–a similar culture of striving for more, of not being satisfied with effort that is merely good enough. This pervading attitude fueled my success in high school, so I was excited to see a college explicitly and outwardly devoted to the same idea.
So far at MSJ, I have not been disappointed. Even though I’m not even a semester through my college education, I understand “Climbing Higher" isn’t just a tagline painted on the wall or printed on apparel.
Every day my professors encourage me to do my best work and provide feedback to help me improve, and always answer my questions (and emails!) when I’m unsure. Every class, every course offers opportunities to go the extra mile, to stretch ourselves–from class discussions to projects and assignments and reports.
I also see the idea of “Climbing Higher” embodied in the Honors Program, which I just recently applied to. The Honors Program provides an educational opportunity specifically designed to challenge students and push us farther intellectually than perhaps other courses do, through service, the final capstone project, honors-designated courses, travel opportunities, and more. Each of these elements encourages students to learn and develop their capacities in even more ways than they were already.
One of the reasons why I chose to apply to the Honors Program (besides priority registration) was that it provides an academic environment that takes the existing rigor of any given degree or program, and adds another layer, another force helping students like me achieve more–encouraging us to climb higher.
And I’m only a freshman. I anticipate that over the next three and a half years-–as I explore all the Mount has to offer-–I will find the concept of “Climbing Higher” is even more deeply rooted in the college than I’ve seen so far. I look forward to growing as much as I can over these years, and I’m confident that I will be continually supported and encouraged to reach for the magis, to Climb Higher, to get as much as I possibly can out of the gift that is this education.