Living and Learning at Holy Cross

You may be wondering what to expect in your first year — new people, new classes, new experiences. Here are three things that you can expect from this year:

• You’re going to be exposed to differences. As you get to know others, you’re going to meet people from so many different backgrounds, beliefs and experiences. Through your courses and other co curricular experiences, you’re going to be exposed to new and different, and sometimes competing, perspectives and ideas.

• You’ll be encouraged to engage in a way that’s fundamentally Ignatian: with intention, reflection, and respect. As you grapple with the new ideas and perspectives that you’ll encounter in your coursework, you’ll have the opportunity to reflect and make sense of what that means for you: What do you believe? What issues are your issues? What do you care about? And as you meet others in clubs, on the field or in your courses, you’re going to have to be intentional and sensitive to the differences you encounter as you make new friends and figure out how to live together in community.

• You’ll have plenty of support when you need it. Everyone will be able to turn to their Montserrat professor, first-year advisor, Orientation Leader(s) and Resident Assistant(s). You’ll also have your class dean and class chaplain. Some of you might also have coaches, supervisors and club leaders to lean on. And, you and your classmates will provide support to one another as you traverse these experiences together.

Each member of Holy Cross brings their own background, experiences and unique characteristics, which is part of what makes our campus community so dynamic. Through this guide, you’ll start to get a glimpse of the many ways that you can shape your college experience, as you think about the first steps of this journey.