Running head: RECOMMENDATION REFLECTIONS 1

Recommendation Reflections

Fernando Arce

Loyola University Chicago

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Recommendation Reflections

Reflection: Letter from Angeline Jones, M.Ed.

After graduating from Roosevelt University (RU), I was not sure what I wanted to do

with my degree. Throughout my time there, I had been on track to be a high school English

teacher but after graduating, I had lost the passion I had to be a confined to the classroom. My

friends were always encouraging me to not give up and pushed me to find a path that would still

fall within my educational aspirations. One of those people that was always checking up on me,

helping me find my next opportunity was Angeline ‘Ang’ Jones. I met Ang when she was a head

orientation leader our Junior year at RU. From that moment, I knew I had forged a strong

friendship with a passionate student leader and lifelong educator.

I still remember the moment that I realized I was not going to be a teacher. I was

attending a student leader retreat at Camp Tecumseh in Indiana and I had mentioned to one of

the facilitators that I did not want to be in a classroom for eight hours but wanted to work more

closely with students. She encouraged me to investigate higher education programs. Once I was

back to Chicago from the retreat, I told Ang that I was thinking of getting my Master of

Education (M.Ed.) and she asked me more about it, making sure that I thought it through before

committing to more schooling after graduation. During our senior year of undergrad, though, we

revisited the conversation about the M.Ed. and talked about the possibility of both of us pursuing

that degree.

After graduation, Ang decided to pursue her master’s degree at Loyola University

Chicago while I decided to build up my resume by taking temporary jobs around the city. I

remember when I told her that I wanted to get M.Ed. and she told me to look up Loyola as a

possibility. During our time at RU, many inspirational staff members we worked with had
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received their M.Ed. from Loyola as well which made it that more appealing. While working at a

for-profit university, I reached out to Ang to tell her that I was applying to the Higher Education

program at Loyola University Chicago. Instantly, she began to help me with the process by

introducing me to members of her cohort, told me about the professors, and curriculum of the

program.

Throughout the summer before fall 2017, Ang was instrumental to introducing me to

various theories and models she was learning in her classes to get me prepared for the program.

Once I finally submitted my application to the time I was accepted into the program, Ang

continued to support me through transitioning into the graduate workload that I was expected to

complete. Never once did she failed to help me through a tough time; which is why I was so

touched to read her letter of recommendation. Ang is such a strong, resilient, and inspiring

individual and without her, I would not have applied for this program or ran for President of the

Higher Education Student Association (HESA).

Reflection: Letter from Tiffany Sharpe

During the first week of class of the higher education program, I knew I was in for a

challenging course load when each professor would go over the syllabus. While I had friends

supporting me outside of the program, I knew I needed to create relationships with folks in my

cohort. One of the people that I gravitated towards was Tiffany ‘Sharpie’ Sharpe, especially in

our American Higher Education course taught by Dr. Blanca Torres-Olave. In that course, we

learned about the history of higher education in the United States from colonial times to present

day. Throughout the class and semester, we became close friends and began to partner together

for class projects. In this history class, we collaborated on the final presentation that tasked us

with uncovering the untold history of the university utilizing the archives of the school. During
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this project, Sharpie’s ability to keep organized notes and analyze the literature was critical to us

being able to complete this project.

I continued to have courses with Sharpie throughout our program and saw a development

of her abilities inside the classroom and out of it. In summer 2017, we took the ‘Rome in Cross

Cultural Leadership’ course taught by Dr. Michael Beazley where we traveled to Rome and

learned about the concept of leadership and power, and how those lessons can translate into

higher education in the United States. During this time, it was difficult for me to not only be far

from my home and family, but also, being in an unknown continent with little to no knowledge

on the culture and language. Sharpie was always present for me and would help me talk through

my moments of stress.

Back on campus, we began to work together again as executive board members for

HESA where she served as Secretary of the Board. In that space, Sharpie helped get the

organization more organized but also supported me through my own areas of growth as President

of the Board. During the first semester of my tenure as President, I struggled being in a position

of power and balancing that with my prior relationships with my friends. Sharpie saw that and

supported me by working closely with me outside of HESA and assured me of my own ability.

Her letter to me reassured me that Sharpie has always been authentic and supportive of

my development, not just as an executive board member of HESA but as a friend and future

college. The letter has also served as an affirmation on my ability to take in feedback and work

on my areas for growth. Sharpie has been a staple in my graduate career and her selflessness has

made this program amazing.