Here at Prep, we learn about Ignatian Values and how we can put them into action. We learn the Grad at Grad values: open to growth, intellectually competent, loving, religious, and committed to doing justice. Prep teaches us how to be transformative young leaders, with these values at the forefront of our minds. Cura personalis, “care for the whole person,” is another idea we’ve all surely heard and learned about during our time at Prep. A key element of Ignatian spirituality means treating every person with respect because we are all created in God’s image and likeness.

One way our school does this is through student-led affinity clubs: Asian Pacific Islander Club (APIC), Black Student Union (BSU), Latino Club, Seattle Prep Pride Alliance (SPPA), and Feminist Interest Group (FIG). These clubs help foster a sense of belonging and serve as safe spaces for students. By offering many different groups, we are able to share our different cultures and identities, making our diverse school into one united community. The end goal is for everybody at Prep to feel supported.

Matt Reyna ’27 is doing his best to support others through SPPA. Matt first joined SPPA freshman year and is now the president of the club. He wanted to share the support that he personally received: “My teachers and classmates were able to create such a welcoming and caring environment for me… I wanted to be able to give that same support to others.” To Matt, being a part of SPPA “means to belong… and to be able to strengthen a more loving environment and community in a world where so much injustice and hatred is spread.”

Eva Grinnell ’27 has been a part of Prep’s Diversity Council (DivCo) for three years. On why she first decided to join, she says, “I wanted a space where I could share my native culture.” Like Matt, Eva also views her affinity group as a community: “It gives me a sense of pride and purpose knowing that I can help build a school environment where everyone feels respected and seen,” says Eva.

DivCo aims to foster a sense of belonging and connection within our school community. They talk about real issues that shape our school. Eva’s favorite moment with DivCo so far was Global Perspectives Week because “…it brought our whole community together. Seeing everyone share their backgrounds and ideas showed me how powerful it is when we celebrate each other’s differences.”

Our affinity clubs at Seattle Prep are a direct reflection of the Ignatian values we try so hard to acknowledge and celebrate as a Jesuit school.