Wake Up With Objective!: What I’ve Discovered in My First Hundred Years

Been quoting the title to friends having birthdays
It only took me 98 years to become an overnight sensation, said Sister Jean in her book. She is smart and funny! If you’re not moving forward, you’re going to get left behind is her mantra. Adaptability is her superpower. She also believes in setting aside quiet time, especially at the day’s start. At one point, she taught, oversaw sports, coached, conducted a weekend scholarship program and organized the altar boys. And found time to pursue her English degree. Another time she was Loyola chaplain, supervisor of the shuttle bus line, director of SMILE, assistant to Eucharistic ministers in the chapel, director of the prayer group in a student resident hall and a member of the Catholic Student Organization Book Club—18 years after she retired!! SMILE is Students Moving into the Lives of the Elderly, visiting with them.When an old person dies, a library closes–African proverb. She is an encyclopedia! She doesn’t sail gently into the sunset. Her constant drumbeat is don’t spoil your dream. Go for it. She is not afraid to learn new things, unlike a lot of people her age, not that there are a lot of people her age, she joked.In 23 seasons as chaplain, she only missed two games. Loyola received requests to use her name and likeness on T-shirts, signs and socks. LEGOLAND displayed a mini figure that showed her dunking a basketball. Her bobblehead manufactured by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum became their best-selling one in the museum’s history.She threw the first pitch at a Cubs game. Her hometown San Francisco had a Sister Jean Day. She was featured in several Catholic magazines and media all over the country. As busy as she was, she set aside time at 3:30 p.m. to watch “Jeopardy.” She said it was her daily reward.She said the student reporters were diggers. She watches the national news and reads parts of the New York Times and the Chicago papers until they took an economic hit.She said it is important to learn to function as a team. In one of her Loyola basketball prayers, she asked God to help the team play with their hands and hearts and give the best at every moment. To share the ball with who is hot. She would say: Be careful of No. 5. Keep 7 from the perimeter. Don’t foul the best shooter. She would bless hands. Refs even started asking. God sees horrible stuff, she said. Her basketball prayers may give him a laugh.Her mother wanted to marry a man named Joseph because he was the foster father of Jesus. She was set up with Joseph and she decided he was not the right one. On the second date, she changed her mind. Her father had six sisters and two brothers and a brother who died at 21. He was the only one who married. He was 4 when he first tried a cigarette. A year after her mother died, Sister could finally talk about it without crying. It doesn’t mean she loved her any less. It just meant that God was taking care of her. You manage the pain and trusting God helps immensely, she said.At one of her schools, Bob Hope had two children there. Also the Sinatra and Crosby kids. She believes the better course is to show students how to do things the right way then get out of the way. She is a big believer in writing and hopes pens and notebooks don’t go out of style. She doesn’t believe in getting rid of tests. Rather, we should improve our schools.It confused, amazed and disappointed her that John Kennedy being Catholic was an issue in his election. People thought he would get directions from the Pope.Now for basketball, there was once an unwritten rule that you couldn’t have more than two black people in a basketball game at the same time. Mississippi State had an unwritten rule that white players were not supposed to play against blacks.Coach Porter’s motto was no excuses, no complaining, no entitlement. He called the review footage Get Better Tapes. He went to residence halls and brought ice cream to increase game attendance. He spoke at orientation. He told students they were an important part of the team. He showed them how to properly distract opposing free throw shooters. He even lifted the head of the mascot off one time with him in the suit. He had the team stand instead of sit on the bench to cheer and would pretend to chastise them if something was said because they weren’t supposed to do that. There was debate on how long he would keep his jacket on. @portersjacket became a Twitter feed. Loyola built a wall of culture in the weight room–words and phrases of inspiration. Sister’s words were worship, work, win. It’s her philosophy on life and athletics. Winning is important because it gives the players the drive to work harder, she said. The win is the payoff for the effort. There is a reason they keep score. It’s OK to argue with your teammates, but keep your eye on the main goal—winning, she said.When Coach Porter had another offer, he wrote one announcement saying he was leaving and one staying. He read each one and discerned how they made him feel and he prayed.When Loyola won its three NCAA tournament games, it was by four points. They had the No. 1 graduation rate in the country that season.Loyola has a large Muslim population. She said there is no reason to put up barriers in age, gender, race or religion, that we are the same in God’s eyes. Loyola took a vote to take $5 out of their fees set up a scholarship fund for undocumented students who didn’t get aid and it passed 70 percent.Jesuit Jam is a dance of students becoming priests. Will check this out on YouTube.Sister goes to bed every night with a smile on her face, gratitude in her heart and love in her soul. She knows she will wake up with purpose.

Classy lady
Like most people, I saw Sister Jean during the 2018 March madness. There was this light about her. Seeing her again after the pandemic was so great. I often wondered what her life was like, how she became a basketball chaplain. I was looking for something new to read, and this book popped up. I was so excited!! I couldn’t stop reading!! She basically tells her life story. It’s an amazing story. She is such a great writer that you feel like she’s right next to you, telling these stories.The only thing that was missing were photos. Still, it’s a great story. You won’t regret it!

Loved Sister Jean’s book
This book was very inspiring. I loved to learn how special her life was. I even enjoyed learning how she has provided the wisdom of her love for God through her teachings and experiences in life. I found this book very comforting and will recommend it to our book club.

Love My First Hundred Years
This is one of my favorite books! So fun to read, wonderful sense of humor. So inspiring, Wake-up with purpose! Perfect! I am not Catholic and I think if Sister Jean every day. She’s amazing. I have a good friend who will be 100 this year and I sent this to her. I think she will really enjoy it. She us an avid reader ❤️