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In a celebrated life that spanned well over a century, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, BVM, who grew up in the Castro District of San Francisco, watched the world unfold before her eyes. She witnessed the building of the Golden Gate Bridge, beheld the rise of the civil rights movement, experienced the domestic tumult of the Vietnam War, cheered the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, and saw the birth of the internet and the smartphone.
After taking her vows as a Sister of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in March 1940, Sister Jean followed a remarkable career path that took her from a fifth-grade classroom at St. Vincent’s school in Chicago, to the private Catholic women’s college, Mundelein College (now affiliated with Loyola University Chicago), where she taught education as a college professor, to Loyola, where she touched the spiritual lives of countless students and became an international celebrity as team chaplain of the Loyola Ramblers, accompanying the team on their historic 2018 run to the NCAA Final Four at age 98.
Sister Jean’s memoir Wake Up with Purpose!: What I’ve Learned in My First Hundred Years co-authored with Seth Davis and published in February 2023, is a vivid window into her life, recounting her inspiring journey with a blend of wisdom, spiritual insight, and her signature wit.
To honor her achievements at Loyola and throughout a life of service, we share some of her more memorable lessons from the book.
On the value of quiet time
“I think we could all be a little happier and more productive if we set aside quiet time, especially at the start of our days … Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the fifteenth-century Spanish priest who founded the religious order of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits, was a great advocate for quiet.” p. ix
On service to God
“All I’ve ever wanted to do was to serve God, and my way of doing that has been to work with young people, encourage them, give them spiritual guidance, and help them live out their dreams.” p. xiii
On loss
“Separation from anybody you love is difficult. We can trust God’s plan, believe that our loved ones who have left us have gone to heaven, and still mourn their passing. Sadness and suffering are part of life. If you have faith those things can bring you closer to God.” p.105
On tolerance
“I believe we should be tolerant of other people’s mistakes. Saint Paul and Saint Peter made mistakes. Peter denied Jesus—that was a big one. Too often we think of God as a very stern judge. I think in many ways, though, we’re getting back to the spirit of acceptance in the church.” p. 18
On sports
“Basketball fascinates me. It’s like a game of chess.” p. 142
“Sports has always been one of the best places for social progress to be made. It’s a simple formula: if you want to win the game, you have to put your best players out there, regardless of their race.” p. 191
On gender
“I never thought about whether it was normal or common for a young girl to be so interested in sports—and as far as I could tell, no one else did either.” p.29
On dreams
“If you’re lucky enough to have a dream that is so powerful you’re willing to work for it, you end up with a life that is teeming with purpose.” p. 38
On teaching
“It’s our job to encourage young people to pursue their dreams—and then give them the space to work through their own challenges instead of trying to fix everything for them all the time.” p. 128
“My number one piece of advice to aspiring teachers is to be honest with your students. If you don’t know the answer to something just say so. Whenever someone asked a question that stumped me, I would say, ‘Gosh, I don’t know. Why don’t we try to find the answer together?’” p. 68
On truth in education
“I really don’t understand people who want to whitewash history and insist that schoolteachers don’t inform their students of the unpleasant realities of the past. People are fallible, and our country, while great, is far from perfect.” p. 86
On change
“Unlike many people, I actually flourish on change, I don’t believe in change for change’s sake, but if something needs to be reformed, then do it.” p. 97
On aging and retirement
“Sometimes when people retire they become reclusive. I could never have just sat in my room or been by myself all the time. I would have missed people too much—especially young people. I needed to wake up with purpose every day.” p. 118
On immigration
“I understand people are concerned about how many immigrants are coming to America, legally and illegally, but I firmly believe these new arrivals need to be educated.” p. 195
On free expression
“I’m afraid that too many college communities have become intolerant of different opinions. If a college invites someone to give a guest lecture whom the students don’t like, they will often try to get them disinvited. However, I believe that even it someone says a lot of things we disagree with, oftentimes it’s worth hearing them out.” p. 197
On young people
“I can never say this enough: I love being around young people. They keep me alive, healthy, and vibrant. They share their dreams and their fears. My interactions with those students are why I’ve never regretted having children of my own.” p. 202
On teaching
“It’s our job to encourage young people to pursue their dreams—and then give them the space to work through their own challenges instead of trying to fix everything for them all the time.” p. 128
“My number one piece of advice to aspiring teachers is to be honest with your students. If you don’t know the answer to something just say so. Whenever someone asked a question that stumped me, I would say, ‘Gosh, I don’t know. Why don’t we try to find the answer together?’” p. 68
On truth in education
“I really don’t understand people who want to whitewash history and insist that schoolteachers don’t inform their students of the unpleasant realities of the past. People are fallible, and our country, while great, is far from perfect.” p. 86
On change
“Unlike many people, I actually flourish on change, I don’t believe in change for change’s sake, but if something needs to be reformed, then do it.” p. 97
On aging and retirement
“Sometimes when people retire they become reclusive. I could never have just sat in my room or been by myself all the time. I would have missed people too much—especially young people. I needed to wake up with purpose every day.” p. 118
On immigration
“I understand people are concerned about how many immigrants are coming to America, legally and illegally, but I firmly believe these new arrivals need to be educated.” p. 195
On free expression
“I’m afraid that too many college communities have become intolerant of different opinions. If a college invites someone to give a guest lecture whom the students don’t like, they will often try to get them disinvited. However, I believe that even it someone says a lot of things we disagree with, oftentimes it’s worth hearing them out.” p. 197
On young people
“I can never say this enough: I love being around young people. They keep me alive, healthy, and vibrant. They share their dreams and their fears. My interactions with those students are why I’ve never regretted having children of my own.” p. 202
