From finals to festivities: Make the most of the semester’s final weeks

As the fall semester winds down and winter break quickly approaches, Loyola’s campuses are still buzzing with activity. Don’t miss some of the key events and resources that are available to de-stress students and get the full Rambler experience.  

Here is an end-of-semester checklist for students as they wrap up their fall courses.

Take advantage of finals week campus resources:  

The Writing Center, located in the Information Commons (IC), will be open through Friday, December 13 and invites students to schedule an appointment for assistance with any writing needs. 

Students can also stay at the IC a little longer during finals week, as extended hours provide a quiet space for exam review.  The week will also be prioritized as a student-only study space beginning December 2 through December 15. All community guests and visitors will be restricted from the IC and Cudahy Library during Final Exams to offer Ramblers an optimal studying environment.  

Ramblers seeking additional academic support can attend study sessions through Tutorpalooza December 6-8 on the sixth floor of the Mundelein Center on the Lake Shore Campus. Success coaches, supplemental instruction leaders, and peer tutors will be hosting two-hour review sessions to help students prepare for exams.

Offer warmth through community service:  

Give back this season by preparing meals at the St. Thomas of Canterbury Soup Kitchen or joining Labre Homeless Ministry to build meaningful connections with individuals experiencing homelessness.  

Students are invited to Community Service and Action every Tuesday and Friday during the semesterby volunteering at the St. Thomas of Canterbury Soup Kitchen to prepare and serve a warm meal. Students do not need to sign up in advance but can simply meet the group at 3:30p.m. in CSA (Damen Student Center 232) with their U-Pass and proper dress code for working in a kitchen. The last day to volunteer this semester is December 6.

Ramblers may also get involved this season by joining Labre Homeless Ministry on December 5 for an opportunity to form relationships with people experiencing homelessness in downtown Chicago. By offering a simple meal and conversation, Labre’s focus is to facilitate a deeper exploration of issues of justice through encounters with individuals.

Prioritize wellness with meditations: 

Ramblers are encouraged to take a deep breath by meditating alone, together with the Wellness Center every Monday afternoon until December 2 in the Information Commons room 317. If students can’t make it to an in-person session, the Wellness Center’s online guided meditation recordings make it easy to access brief meditations that are meant to help students cope with finals.

Get involved in Loyola traditions:  

Take a study break, refuel, and catch up with friends over a free breakfast before the final stretch of exams. Reserve your spot for the highly anticipated Finals Breakfast in the Damen Student Center on Tuesday, December 10, from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., open to all Loyola students. Reserve your ticket and time slot on LUCommunity to attend. 

Stay up to date on more of Loyola’s Holiday traditions around the university’s campuses such as Lessons & Carols or Joyola. 

Seek holiday cheer throughout the city: 

Head to see the Millennium Park Christmas Tree and be a part of Chicagoan Holiday spirit. The annual Christkindlmarket has also opened for the season and features a German-style outdoor vendor market full of holiday trinkets, treats, and cheer. Travel on the CTA Christmas train as it spreads holiday cheer throughout the city. Don’t forget to lean into the winter weather by booking ice rink reservations to skate at the ribbon in Maggie Daley Park or at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park next to the Bean. 

Take a breath with Review on Retreat:  

Trade the noise of the city and the crowds in the IC for the quiet of Loyola’s Retreat and Ecology Campus with Campus Ministry. From December 7-8, Loyola students are invited to recharge and prepare for the end of the semester by spending a weekend at LUREC in Woodstock, Illinois. Ramblers will have designated time to study for finals and reflect on the past few months as they conclude a busy semester. Priority registration deadline closes on November 28.