Luke Hughes (SFS’27) is a Georgetown Storyteller and sophomore in the School of Foreign Service studying science, technology and international affairs. He is from Lake Forest, Illinois.
November marks the beginning of Jesuit Heritage Month, a yearly celebration of the history and traditions of the Society of Jesus. As the oldest Jesuit school in the country, us Hoyas take this time very seriously with events around campus for students to show gratitude for this core part of our school’s identity.
However, this November is a little bit different. Tuesday, Nov. 5 is Election Day across the U.S., a day Georgetown students do not take lightly. For me, receiving a Jesuit education has made me an active participant in what is the backbone of the U.S.: our democracy. I am encouraged and excited to vote because I am a Georgetown student.
At the heart of Georgetown’s Jesuit education is critical thinking and class-wide discussions, asking questions that have not been asked before, exploring unknown areas of the world, understanding the context before jumping to a solution, and other forms of innovative learning. It’s the type of learning model that has made me a more active participant in our country’s democracy.
Although it may not be obvious to see how Jesuit education translates into making me a better voter, there are several connections. The Jesuit education system does not tell me to think one way or another. In fact, it does quite the opposite.
Courses taught at Georgetown across all subjects present both sides of topics. In my Advanced Transatlantic Spanish II classes, we discussed the topic of Puerto Rico’s independence from the U.S. Divided into teams, we debated how members of both political parties in Congress would address the situation after conducting research and gathering evidence. My friend Catie Dice (C’27) is in Prisons and Punishment with Professor Marc Howard. Catie told me how the professor and the teaching assistants, who are all formerly incarcerated individuals, highlight reasons why the prison system should still exist while also suggesting reforms.
These classes and teaching methods are hallmarks of a Jesuit education. The presence of Jesuit values in my everyday classes has undoubtedly left a positive impact on how I view the world. All these courses help me understand my role in the world. It has been nearly impossible for my peers and me to not learn about current events, what solutions are possible, and not get an urge to make a difference. Since coming to Georgetown, my Jesuit education has shown me how the betterment of society depends on active and engaged members of our democratic system.
This isn’t because a Jesuit education wants everyone to be a politician or community activist. Rather, students here learn to identify where our society is lacking in providing the proper resources for those on the margin. Jesuit-educated students learn how to live out the Society’s motto of magis, the “more,” and discover ways that they can positively impact the people around them.
Students in the McDonough School of Business may learn about how corporations often place profit over people, resulting in inequitable communities across our country. Students in the School of Health may learn about how global vaccine distribution relies on fortified community-based health systems to ensure the needs of all are met. Regardless of what school a student is in at Georgetown, our Jesuit education reminds us of our place in the world and why each of our votes matters. We have the incredible opportunity to influence the policies on the issues that matter most to us.
Because of my Jesuit education, I have become more conscious of how I can impact the societal issues that matter most to me. Voting in this great experiment of American democracy is the most obvious way. When I casted my ballot, I knew not to vote based on the political party next to a name or whether I recognized the candidate. I knew that a well-informed and prepared voter would conduct proper research and vote for the candidate they believe would best represent their beliefs.
I knew that such a voter would not lose all hope if the election did not have their desired outcome, but instead find another way to make change in our expansive democracy. Such a voter would not criticize their friends for who they voted for and why, but instead make an active attempt to understand where they are coming from and where they may see eye-to-eye. Such a voter would understand their place in the world, why their voice matters, and how their involvement in the democratic process can create change.
I owe all of this and more to my Jesuit education. The Jesuits have changed my outlook on the political world and for the better. Through the most engaging courses I have ever been in, this unique and innovative education system has reminded me of the importance of asking questions first before speaking, of being firm in your beliefs, and advocating for what matters to you, regardless of others’ opinions.
I voted because I know it matters. At Georgetown, students don’t stop at simply taking classes about the decline of various democracies around the world. Knowing this reality, they’re active and don’t take the cherished act of voting for granted. Georgetown students understand the weight of their voice and use it as a force for good. Our Jesuit education has created a community of intelligent and aware voters.
I applied to mainly Jesuit colleges and universities for a reason. I am eternally thankful for my high school, Loyola Academy (Go Ramblers!), for showing me the beauty of Jesuit education. And as Georgetown has only deepened my appreciation for the Jesuits, I am thrilled to see its impacts on other aspects of my life. By showing me a different way of learning, my Jesuit education has transformed me into an informed and prepared voter. And regardless of the election’s outcome, I also know that by being a student at Georgetown, I will still have the resources necessary to dedicate myself to a career of service to my country and the world through the democratic process.
From one Jesuit-educated student to another, I encourage all my peers to get out there and vote. Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J., called us to be women and men for others. Here at Georgetown, we like to say Hoyas for others. We can live out this ideal by showing gratitude for our Jesuit education and performing our civic duty. That’s what we are here to do.
