I am terrible with good-byes.  When I used to spend the summer on my uncle’s Iowa farm, feeding calves, mowing the large swaths of grass, driving tractor for the hay balers, I would hide in the barn when it was time to return with my parents to a Chicago suburb.  I didn’t want to say … Continue reading “A Gesture, A Face, A Life”: A Faculty Feature from Natalie Dykstra

The annual juried art show opened in the DePree Gallery on Monday, November 19th.  Twenty-eight students have work in the show, including painting, sculpture, works on paper, textiles, new media, and installation art.  This year the guest juror is Patrick Earl Hammie, a professor of art at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champlain. People may wonder … Continue reading Juried Art Show Provides Hope Students With Invaluable Experience

The last couple of weeks of my semester I was blessed to have my parents come and visit. Although FaceTime is a wonder and I’ve been able to talk to my parents face to face throughout this semester, it was so good to have them here in person. I loved being able to show them … Continue reading Familiar Faces

Whether it’s friends, clubs, or a major, finding your “thing” in college can be a daunting task. With about 80 different clubs and student groups at Hope College, you have plenty to choose from! Here are some tips that will hopefully help you determine what “thing” is right for you.   Think about your interests. Are … Continue reading Finding Your “Thing” at Hope College

Thanksgiving has been my favorite holiday for as long as I can remember. When I tell people this, I generally get a lot of questions asking why. No, it’s not because my favorite food is mashed potatoes (though it definitely takes a nice second to puppy chow) or because I love watching the Lions lose … Continue reading Learning To Be Thankful One Day At A Time

I lost my glasses in the Mediterranean Sea. Twice. I don’t miss them one bit. Why? Because I learned two important lessons when I studied in Spain last May. First, don’t go kayaking without securing your glasses. Second, you have a rare opportunity to earn college credit while having a marvelous adventure by finding a new way … Continue reading Glasses Under the Sea

Deciding where to go to college was just as stressful and scary as it was exciting. What if I made the wrong choice and I missed out on an entirely different experience at a different school? I wanted someone else to decide for me so I didn’t have to think about it. My whole mindset … Continue reading Worrying About the “What If?”