Four weeks ago, I wrote about the foundational importance of self-awareness. Realizing that one “Word from Your Breaux” column probably isn’t going to change anyone’s life, I decided to write a follow-up. Lucky you, fate led me back to a poem I wrote three and a half years ago, as a first-semester freshman. It speaks of a search for friendship, a search which has enlightened my search for self.

The bond of friendship is unique, different from born-into family relationships and deeper than physically-driven romantic relationships. In my novice poem, I wrote of friendship: “This love is not made in one night in a bed. / It’s an unphysical touch, a touch that instead / Can only in heart, mind, and soul be felt true. / Something outside of the power of you.”

Deepening relationships with my friends, and deepening my understanding of self, have guided me down the straight track of developing the holistic person Loyola encourages in all of us. There have definitely been snags along the way when I strayed from the proper path, but I always got back on course, thanks to the guidance of my friendships.

The finish line of my Loyola marathon is now less than a month away, and each of my four years here represents a distinct leg of this rewarding test of endurance.

Freshman year represents the beginning of the search. The poem I’ve referred to, as I understand it now, reflects a longing for meaningful relationships, from which to learn from and to find support.

Sophomore year was my coming of age. Spending much of the year apart from family and friends, I was forced to cultivate independence, and I learned not to take my positive relationships for granted.

Junior year was my tragic-heroic failure, from which my peers and superiors began to light me down a newly-blazed trail.

And this year, the final leg of the race has taken me along the road of spirituality, self-confidence and social satisfaction. Hmm, with that kind of alliteration, maybe I should be a poet …

I write this, however, not to show off my poetic artistry (publishers contact [email protected]), but to recognize friendship as the greatest source of my personal development at Loyola. Even though I know I’ll retain these friendships in my Loyola afterlife – hopefully through more direct means than Facebook – I’ll miss the comfort of the shared love I feel on this campus.

The Loyola community, especially my friends, has inspired me to grow deeper and stronger as a person. I can’t express enough gratitude for this positive impact on my life.