Jake Schneider, M.T.S.’10, chose Boston College on the basis of its location, its reputation, and the sense of community he found when he visited. But it wasn’t until he arrived on campus as a graduate student at the School of Theology and Ministry that he discovered the benefits of attending a large, resource-rich university.

“Boston College offers so many academic resources and opportunities,” he says. “Our connection with the department of theology, for example, opens up your course options and gives you access to faculty members with different interests and views. And through the Boston Theological Institute, you can take classes at other institutions. I studied language and theology at Harvard, where I was in class with students from a variety of religious traditions. The experience really broadened my education.”

Schneider also found plenty of opportunities for ministry at Boston College. As a graduate assistant with Campus Ministry, he helped run the University’s Arrupe International Immersion program, which is designed to teach undergraduates about people living in marginalized communities through on-campus education and international immersion experiences.

“There’s an important spiritual dimension to the program,” says Schneider. “Before the students leave for their immersion experiences, we talk with them about the issues they will confront around poverty, privilege, and economics and politics. We also talk about what our faith calls us to do when we see injustice and disparity in the world.”

“My work in Campus Ministry has been very important in my theological education,” he continues. “It’s helped me take what I’ve learned in the classroom and bring it to a practical level.”

Now that he’s graduated, Schneider plans to spend the next two years doing service work with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Santiago, Chile. After that, he says, “Who knows where my path will lead? It’s about the journey—about being present to wherever you are.”