Profile of a Student at Chicago Jesuit Academy

In choosing Chicago Jesuit Academy, a young person commits to partnering with their family, their classmates, their teachers and CJA’s administrators so that they might grow socially, spiritually and academically to become a “person for others” in the Jesuit tradition. A student is guided in their commitment to their goal by a deepening understanding of the five virtues of a graduate at graduation common to Jesuit schools, which form young people to seek intellectual excellence and to be open to growth, religious, loving and committed to doing justice in the service of others.

Seeking Intellectual Excellence

A student of Chicago Jesuit Academy

• comes to class prepared to learn,

• tries their best on all homework and class work assignments and

• follows all teacher directions to help create a safe and functioning learning environment.

A student of Chicago Jesuit Academy

• strives to become a partner in their own learning, seeking out the assistance or additional academic challenges that they need and

• is beginning to plan for their own academic future.

A student of Chicago Jesuit Academy

• aspires to the ideal of eloquentia perfecta, or the ability to think critically, write lucidly and speak eloquently.

Open to Growth

A student of Chicago Jesuit Academy

• shows an eagerness to learn new lessons and material,

• is willing to try new experiences and activities when given the opportunity and

• learns from their own mistakes and the constructive criticism of others.

A student of Chicago Jesuit Academy

• strives to recognize how much they learn from careful listening to their peers.

A student of Chicago Jesuit Academy

• aspires to be open to encounters with ideas, persons and cultures different from themself,

• aspires to reflect, learn and grow from these encounters and

• aspires to begin to understand the interaction and interdependence among all God’s creation.

Religious

A student of Chicago Jesuit Academy

• participates in daily prayer and weekly chapel services, both as an individual and as part of their class and school community.

A student of Chicago Jesuit Academy

• strives to form a Christian conscience and to evaluate their moral choices with the goal of becoming a “person for others”.

A student of Chicago Jesuit Academy

• aspires to accept themself as a person formed in the image and likeness of God and to serve others with the unique gifts with which God has entrusted them.

Loving

A student of Chicago Jesuit Academy

• includes others in activities,

• appreciates and respects the care given by teachers and other caring adults and

• helps to make the classroom and the school a safe place for all students to learn and grow.

A student of Chicago Jesuit Academy

• strives to learn the trust involved in friendship, including friendship with those different from themself,

• strives to recognize personal prejudices and stereotyping and

• strives to appreciate the importance of empathy, of putting themself in the shoes of another.

A student of Chicago Jesuit Academy

• aspires to accept themself as unconditionally loved by God and others and

• aspires to recognize that true service to others is selfless and given in love.

Committed to Doing Justice in the Service of Others

A student of Chicago Jesuit Academy

• recognizes when any member of their class or school community is being treated unfairly and

• seeks out the help needed to fix an unjust situation.

A student of Chicago Jesuit Academy

• strives to become more understanding, accepting and generous with others and

• strives to become more aware of how putting oneself first can lead to others being treated unjustly.

A student of Chicago Jesuit Academy

• aspires to grow in awareness of current and historical social problems,

• aspires to understand the structural roots of these problems and injustices,

• aspires to develop a sense of compassion for the victims of injustice and

• aspires to understand their obligation as a religious person to participate in building a just society.

Adapted in 2005 from “Profile of Graduate at Graduation from St. Ignatius Loyola Academy” and updated in 2022 with gender-inclusive language in preparation for the enrollment of CJA’s first girls in 2022-2023