This blog post is part of a series. Read the introduction and Meet Some of Our Hope Forward Students and Why Apply to Hope Forward? Jim: Tell me this, and anyone can answer this if you like, we don’t have to go down the aisle. Do you have a “Hope who?” And by that, I …
Continue reading “What Connections Are Hope Forward Students Making on Campus?”
This blog post is part of a series. Read the introduction and Meet Some of Our Hope Forward Students. Jim: I think [people] might be interested to know how you each heard of Hope Forward and what motivated you to apply for this program. YJ, you start. YJ: Oh man. I’m gonna be dead honest. …
This blog post is part of a series. Read the introduction here. Let’s meet the students and our wonderful moderator, Jim McFarlin. If you haven’t met Jim yet, you’re in for a treat. Jim is an award-winning freelance writer, editor, proofreader, media coordinator and marketing consultant. He’s a proud Hope alum and a trustee. And …
An Introduction to the Hope Forward Student Panel at the Catalyst Summit on the campus of Hope College, March 9, 2023. We are all here today to learn from the true stars and experts, our students, so I want to maximize our time with them today, but I’d first like to share just a little …
Living in Jordan has completely changed my relationship with water. How does this relate to Hope Forward? Let me explain. It’s a bit of a long story — a bit of a journey, even. I hope you’ll take it with me. First off, some background information: Jordan is an arid country, and water is a …
Continue reading “Water and Grace: Studying Abroad as a Hope Forward Student”
A gift must not only be given, it must also be received. One that is given freely in love is stewarded, kept and appreciated deeply. When we give gifts to those whom we love, often the meaning and value lies in where the gift is coming from and what the gift is pointing to. It …
I remember the first time I visited Hope College in January of 2020, before the pandemic interrupted my normal routines and altered my sense of community. After my visit, I immediately noted that the strong sense of community was a highlight of Hope. Before I even knew of the Hope Forward vision, I noticed that …
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the scene where Jesus forgives the adulterous woman and saves her from being stoned. There she stood, trembling – her secret, shameful sin having been discovered – hanging on the precipice of death at the hands of religious leaders intent on stoning her for her transgressions. …
I love stories. I believe that stories hold the power to shape minds, change hearts and shift landscapes. In my three years as an employee of Hope College, students have served as the primary cultivators of my continued appreciation for stories. Their lived experiences, current manners of existing in the world and future ambitions perpetually …
