FAQ Friday Re-Cap: July 17

Orientation

Before we get started answering questions, we want to briefly talk about move-in logistics.

You (or your student) were just assigned a move-in time this week. If you do not have that information, please email orientation@hope.edu or housing@hope.edu. That email will reiterate some of these clarifications:

  • During your move-in time, you will have three hours with whatever family members you want to move you in. 
  • There is not a limit on who helps you but there is a limit on time: 3 hours!
  • Your room and residence hall will be your new home for the next few months, so we strongly encourage you to treat it like yours! Please sleep in your residence hall throughout the week during staggered move-in, even if your family is staying in Holland.
  • Pro Tip: it would be handy to bring some tools (hammer, screwdriver, tape measure) to help with arranging your room or lofting your bed. Occasionally, the bed-frames are finicky! 

Tip for families: A toolbox is a great gift for your new college student. They will be the envy of their living cohort if they have a toolbox to fix little things that happen throughout the year. 

Are there any activities planned for the students who move-in early: Yes! During the day, students will be able to eat in the dining halls, pick-up their books from the bookstore, grab a parking pass, engage with their hall/house/clustermates, explore downtown, etc. Orientation will also be hosting some smaller-scale events in the evenings after move-in is finished for the day.  More details are to come!

Residential Life

Is there storage in the dorm halls for student use?: Not during the school year… but they can store bikes for you during the winter and can store larger items for students living out-of-state during the summertime.

Where do students have access to printers? Printers are available in the basement of each dorm along with computers that are connected to those printers. CIT has instructions for how students can connect their laptops to printers. Cottages and apartments do not have printers, but students have free access to non-color printers in the library and in some academic buildings. Color printing is available for 25 cents a page through the library and Print and Mail Services!

Are vacuums available? Vacuums are available for each living cohort.

What cleaning supplies do we need to bring for the dorms? Community cleaning supplies will be available in the community spaces. You should also be sure to bring paper towels, kleenex, clorox wipes, lysol, hand sanitizer, and anything else you might need to keep your room clean and germ free!

Another Tip: Don’t forget to bring laundry detergent, softener, dryer sheets, or whatever you may need to wash your clothes because cleaning your laundry is just as important! Cam usually does a dollar store run to buy smaller, individual cleaning supplies (wax candle things, duster, sponge, handheld vacuum, dish soap, laundry soap, little broom and dustpan)

How will I get my ID for the school year? Submit a headshot photo (you can find the link to submit it here!) Please us a blank background, bright lighting, and have it be a picture of only you! You need this ID to access your res hall and the dining hall!

How can students use the Dow Center? This is the gym on campus. It also has an indoor track and basketball courts and a pool. You can use it any time that it is open with just your Hope ID. We are unsure if the Dow will be open because we have to comply with the executive orders from our governor.

Where Can I Find…

Are all of the FAQs and answers listed somewhere? Yes, on our blog! Every Monday, we post written out answers to the questions we received on Friday. The link is in our bio! We also just added a cool new resource on our website called “10 things to know (or do) to prepare for college.” You can find our full archive of FAQ Friday Re-Caps there!

I have not been receiving the Zoom links to the live events on Tuesdays, where can I find those? Check out our orientation website (10 things) or blog for the links to those!

I know a lot of information is in those Tuesday Tidings emails, can I have access to those too? The link to the Tuesday Tidings emails is available to access on our website as part of the “10 Things to know before coming to college.” You can find the full archive here.

Reminders

  • A reminder that you have an academic advisor form and StrengthsQuest assessment due on July 24th! (Both of those are in your Hope email)
  • Submit your ID photo!
  • Check your Hope email regularly!

Living On-Campus Event Recording (7/14)

If you missed the live Tuesday event this week, no worries! We’ve got you covered with this recording. More details are below!

In this video, you will find information on what move-in and campus living will look like. By now, you should have received your assigned 3-hour time slot for move in. Email housing@hope.edu or orientation@hope.edu if you have questions about that email and the process it describes.

Anyone can help you move-in during your time slot! However, we do ask that you only use your 3-hour time slot to move-in. After that, families will be asked to leave campus, and students will ease into their college experience. So, there is no limit on the number of people that can help you move-in, but there is a limit on the time: 3-hours!

You also should have received an email update about how to get your student ID made. Please be sure to submit your picture as soon as possible so we can give you your ID when you arrive on campus!

One last thing: If you are interested in exploring some of the student groups that you could join at Hope, you can get a little sneak peek by checking out the Orientation Instagram (@hopeorientation). There, we have a highlight called “Activities Fair” where you can find videos created by our student leaders describing their club and how to get involved.

The Five Messages: Be A Good Human

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” 1 Peter 4:8-10

Many people do not believe that they are not a “good human.” However, at the present moment, it’s hard to see where all the good humans are in the world. There is injustice, death, political tensions, and above all that, a global pandemic.

Over the past few months, I’ve had a lot of time to think, as we all have, and I am realizing that being a good human does not necessarily have to be a grand gesture that changes the world.  Being a good human is in the small things we do every day. It is waking up every day and choosing to treat the people around us with love, compassion, and respect.

Being a Good Human at Hope

When the coronavirus pandemic hit, and the semester was shifted online, it was new territory for everyone. No one knew what this would look like or how we would navigate college online. I would be lying if I said it was an easy transition.

Despite the switch, my favorite class was on Monday nights. My professor took the first and last 10 minutes of class to go through the roster and individually ask each of us how we were doing. He asked how our online classes were going, if we were okay being at home, how we were emotionally doing, and more. He told us he was praying for us and that he was just one email away if we ever needed anything. In a time when we needed that support, this professor was there for us. That is being a good human. 

Another time that I distinctly remember is from my freshman year. My birthday is at the beginning of the school year, so as a freshman, not many people knew when it was. Two friends that I had added on Snapchat a few weeks earlier had noticed this, and they surprised me with a mini celebration and cinnamon rolls in the basement of Scott Hall. It was a simple gesture, but to me, it meant so much more. Being in a completely new environment and overwhelmed with the newness of college, I felt seen and cared about. That is being a good human. 

These are just a few examples of this concept at play at Hope College. This will be a time when you are going to be challenged every day. You are going to have ups and downs. You will learn, grow, and change. There will be plenty of times where you will be challenged and being a good human to others may seem difficult or even impossible. Just remember that responding to a situation, no matter how frustrating, with grace and love will always be worth it. 

Being a good human is in the small things we do every day.

Transitioning to college has its own set of challenges, and amid a global pandemic, those challenges become 10 times harder. However, new students and the class of 2024  are resilient, strong, and capable to handle these challenges. By being good humans, we will all get through this unprecedented time together. 

Molly is a rising junior from Grand Rapids studying communications. At Hope, she is involved in Greek Life, Dance Marathon, intramural sports, Bible studies, and she works at the Boerigter Center! Outside of school, she loves cooking, traveling, being outside, going to concerts, and hanging with friends and family. She is obsessed with her two dogs and her goal in life is to one day give a TedTalk.

A Letter to Hope Families

Hello, and welcome to Hope College!

We are Darren and Judy Gross, the co-chairs of the Parents’ Council, which is a committee of Hope parents and Administration. The Council works to provide communication between families and the college by identifying and addressing the needs and concerns of families. The team also guides members of the parent
community toward increased support, understanding, and enthusiasm for Hope.

Parents Council 2019 – 2020

We are happy to be planning for the start of the school year and getting into the swing of things again. As at most places, things will be different at Hope this year too, but that is okay.

The Hope Experience will remain the same. Hope is more than a college; it is a feeling! We are so excited to have you, your family, and your new Hope student be a part of the Hope community.

There is no better place to learn and grow, and you will feel the energy across campus and throughout the city the minute you arrive.

This community includes the entire student body, the faculty and staff, and the city of Holland. There is no better place to learn and grow, and you will feel the energy across campus and throughout the city the minute you arrive. Enjoy it. It is an amazing place to be.

We encourage you to engage with Hope in any way that you can while always trusting that your student will find their way, build resilience, and impress you with what they learn at Hope.

We have two children. Sydney is a Hope graduate, now in optometry school, and Matthew will be starting his junior year at Hope College. Hope has prepared both of our children for success in many ways, and it is truly a special place. Tough times will come, but we have personally seen how Hope has prepared our children to persevere, think outside the box, and overcome any type of challenge. We can attest to how great Hope is!

You can find details and contact information about the Parents’ Council at  hope.edu/families. Contact any of the team members if you have questions or need advice on how to navigate getting your student settled in and ready for their Hope Experience.

We look forward to meeting you at various events over the next few years.

Go Hope!
Darren and Judy Gross

Darren and Judy Gross

FAQ Friday Re-Cap: July 10

Did you miss last week’s FAQ Friday? No worries! We have the re-cap for you here. Learn about the best coffee shops around campus, how to handle laundry at Hope, and some reminders about upcoming deadlines and events.

Be sure to fill out your Academic Advisor Information form and the StrengthsQuest Assessment (which you will need during Orientation weekend!). Both of these are in last week’s “Tuesday Tidings” email.

Tonight, there will be another installment of our “Something Every Tuesday” video series about your living experience at Hope. Be sure to invite your families to join the live-streamed event at 7pm. The link was sent to your Hope email in Tuesday Tidings.

Social/Extracurriculars

Is there a Latin dance club at Hope? Yes! Ballet Folklorico: Dance ensemble that performs traditional dances to Latin folk music; LatinxRhythms: New club that explores different Latin music and dances. Check them both out this coming year!

What’s your favorite thing to do on campus outside of clubs/class/sports? Adriana: going to SAC events, hanging out with friends in the Pine Grove on blankets or hammocks and going to the beach; Cam: Coffee shops (LJs, Ferris, 205, Simpatico, and more!) & game nights in the Res Halls (I used to play a lot of Catchphrase, Dodgeball, ping-pong, & Mario Kart…)

Where is the cheapest and best coffee? The Kletz Market in the Bultman Student Center in the middle of campus or Cup & Chaucer in the library. Both carry Simpatico coffee (for less than $2 a cup) and are super accessible. The Kletz can even make lattes and other specialty drinks!

Academics

Are there ways we can adjust our schedule after it’s sent out? Yes; you can contact the registrar to make changes to your schedule after it is sent out. The instructions for that will be in your Hope email by the end of July. However, Hope works really hard and is really intentional about creating schedules that will maximize your education and exploration during your first semester and most people are happy with schedules created for them. 

Advice

What advice would you give incoming students? Adriana: Don’t feel like you need to get “overinvolved”. Your Hope experience is yours to make the most of, so don’t feel pressure to join every club or attend every event. Take time for yourself to rest, be a student, be an athlete, whatever you need! Cam: Give yourself grace as you adjust to the dining hall life. I would often forget the dining hall hours and then couldn’t eat with my meal plan! It is just an adjustment I wished I had been aware of and could prepare for.

Residential Life

What are some dorm room essentials? Umbrella, Robe, Fan, Laundry basket, Shower shoes, Blanket/Towel for the beach, Collapsible drying rack

Should I bring a mini fridge to campus? You can! All the dorms do have a community kitchen equipped with a large fridge and freezer, oven & stove, and a microwave. These are available to all students in the dorm. You should also know that you cannot have a microwave or toaster in your room.

Do I need to bring quarters for the laundry machines? No, Hope has Bluetooth laundry machines that are operated through an app called PayRange. You can load money onto that app to run the washing and drying machines. Quick Tip: Don’t leave your laundry in the machines! Although you do not need to worry about people stealing your clothes, it is courteous to your community to take care of your laundry as quickly as possible.

Navigating Your Wellness Event Recording

We have the recording from last Tuesday’s event with the Health Center, Campus Ministries, Dining Services, and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) for you here!

And, don’t forget! We have another live event tonight with Residential Life, Campus Safety, and Financial Aid all about “Living on Campus”. This event begins at 7pm, so bring your questions and learn about these resources. The link is in today’s Tuesday Tidings in your or your student’s Hope email.

These events will prepare families and students for a smooth and easy transition to Hope College in August. Over the coming weeks, it is our goal to answer all (or as many as we can!) of the questions you have. We encourage you to continue sending those to firstyear@hope.edu

If you are seeking information about new student orientation, check out hope.edu/orientation. You can also follow Orientation on Instagram @hopeorientation

The Five Messages: Value Differences

Leaving Chicago in order to start college in Holland was a big transition. At home, I was always comfortable with my surroundings because most people either looked like me or shared similar experiences. However, at Orientation, I was immediately aware that I looked different from most of the other new students around me. I was nervous and not quite sure how I would fit into this place I was supposed to call home.

Our differences make us stronger!

AD Training 2019

 Even though I felt unsure, I realized that everyone I’d meet along the way would have experiences that shaped who they are. Orientation has taught me that everyone has powerful stories to tell, and if you take the time to surround yourself with others different from you, some really special relationships can form. Because of this, I knew from the start that Orientation was something I wanted to be a part of. 

The highlight of college so far, for me, is definitely being a part of the Orientation Team as an Assistant Director (AD). Orientation at Hope is different from new student orientation at most schools because Hope is really intentional about creating a home for new students, building community, creating long lasting friendships, and most importantly, valuing differences.

The start of college can be extremely difficult for many, but every student has their own uniqueness and authenticity to bring to the table, and at Hope, we celebrate that. 

Being an AD has become important to me because I can be a welcoming and familiar face for other students of color who may be anxious about their new surroundings like I was. There are so many moments during Orientation that can positively impact a student’s college experience from the start, so as a team, we work hard to provide students with the best, most fun, welcome to Hope College. We are not afraid to be silly or to dance and have fun, and because of it, we are a better team. 

Orientation can help all of us value each other’s differences!

Mia’s O-Fam!

Orientation as a whole has impacted me because it is a time where staff and new students can completely be themselves and everyone around is genuinely interested in getting to know your unique story. The start of college can be extremely difficult for many, but every student has their own uniqueness and authenticity to bring to the table, and at Hope, we celebrate that. 

College is meant to be a time when you are completely free to learn about so many different ways of life, immerse yourself in different cultures, create diverse friend groups, and pick up new hobbies. It is important to come into college with an open mind ready and willing to learn. I have benefited greatly by being involved in Orientation because it has helped me find my place at Hope. As for the new students, know that your differences are to be celebrated. Know that Hope is a better place because you are here and because you are you!

My name is Mia Wiley, and I am from Chicago, Illinois. I am a senior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. As a freshman, I was a part of the Phelps Scholars program. I love to play intramural soccer, and I enjoy being involved with events put on by the Multicultural Student Organizations as well as going to SAC events with my friends. This is my second year being an AD, and I am so excited to meet you all! 

Welcome, Transfer Students!

First, I just want to say: Welcome to Hope! I transferred to Hope College last fall, so I know just how intimidating moving to a new school can be! I remember feeling nervous, anxious, overwhelmed, but also excited for a new start.

At first, I was not interested in attending the Orientation Weekend because I wasn’t a new freshman; I had already been to college and thought I knew what it was all about. I thought I would be lumped in with all the new incoming freshmen who had yet to experience college. However, I am so glad I ended up going because my assumptions were not true! Transfer Student Orientation is different from New Student Orientation, and is designed so that transfer students can get acclimated to Hope and make connections on campus with upperclassmen and other transfer students. I had lots of fun, gained valuable information, and made some awesome friendships!

I was surprised to discover that there was already a supportive transfer community waiting for me when I arrived.

The most meaningful aspect of Orientation was becoming part of the incredible transfer community and the campus community at Hope. When I transferred to Hope College, I thought I would be one of the only transfer students on campus. However, I realized there are hundreds of current students who transferred to Hope at some point in their college career. I was surprised to discover that there was already a supportive transfer community waiting for me when I arrived. I was not defined as a “transfer student” or “the new student.” I immediately felt welcomed by both students and professors. 

The weekend started off with a welcome dinner hosted by Barbara Miller and Peggy Gorno from Admissions. The food was delicious, and it was reassuring to realize I was not going through the transition alone. Another valuable experience for transfer students was the Tracking My Degree Completion session. It was great to learn about the unique resources Hope College offers to support transfer students with their academic plans. My favorite part of Orientation was when all the transfer students were treated to frozen yogurt and got to hang out together downtown. It was great to spend time with this group, and I enjoyed having the chance to get to know so many cool people.

2019 Transfer Student Orientation

Attending Orientation allowed me to have more time to move and settle in before classes started, and this was a huge bonus. I was able to get my textbooks, Hope ID, and other important items without feeling rushed. Additionally, it was awesome to get to know my roommate and explore the Holland area with new friends. I highly recommend visiting the beach to catch the sunset! 

 Through Orientation, I also learned about all the opportunities there are to get involved on campus. Getting involved on campus is a great way to have a positive transfer experience, meet people, create friendships, and develop leadership skills. There are tons of awesome student groups, clubs, organizations, and volunteer positions.

 This past year, I was part of a weekly Bible study, volunteered at CASA (an after-school tutoring program for elementary students), and became a student employee working for Admissions.  This coming year, I will be part of the Emmaus Scholars program, vice president of the Psychology Club, and a member of the Student Activities Committee. There are so many fun and rewarding ways to get involved; Hope truly has something for everyone!

I had a really positive transfer experience, and attending Orientation helped create a smooth transition for me. This year, I am part of the Orientation Team, and I cannot wait to welcome you to the campus community. I am so glad you chose Hope College, and I look forward to meeting all of you soon!

The Five Messages: Mindset Matters

During Orientation, there are five messages we like to focus on, reminding ourselves of the bigger picture and helping to stay outside of our own bubbles. One of those is the concept “Mindset Matters.”

When considering what we can actually control in our lives, the list gets real short, real fast. However, something that is always in our control is our mindset, or how we think about a situation. By maintaining a positive (or at least level-headed) schema, we can make a potentially overwhelming situation quite manageable!

Mindset Matters and College

College is the literal definition of a “potentially overwhelming situation.” The combination of a new environment, with new people, professors, classes, and a newfound freedom, can be pretty intimidating. I know it was for me. But, by maintaining a positive mindset, I was able to settle in at Hope, learning to deal with the newness and find joy in it. Honestly, that is the beauty of any new experience, but it can be a bumpy road in the process, and that’s where mindset truly comes in. As much as we might claim to love normalcy, progress does not operate on such terms. It requires a change, and we usually find ourselves better off for it. But it is not doable without taking control of our mental approach.

Not only did I gain an appreciation for the challenges of school, but it was also a reminder of the importance of maintaining a positive attitude through it all.

My freshman year was interesting. Classes were tough, but friends were awesome. Athletics were challenging, but ultimately rewarding. Living so far from family was difficult, but I found myself valuing time with them more.

Reflection can help change your mindset!

After the year ended, I had the benefit of a 20-hour drive home to reflect on everything that had happened throughout my first year. When I rolled into my driveway, I had a new appreciation for the challenges that I had faced. It had given me an opportunity to grow tremendously through the difficulties and the frustrations. Not only did I gain an appreciation for the challenges of school, but it was also a reminder of the importance of maintaining a positive attitude through it all.

In my experience, it is hard to keep a positive mindset if I let myself believe something isn’t worth it (aka first semester Bio lab). But, by accepting that something (a class, extracurricular, acquaintance) isn’t valuable from the start, you are creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. A positive mindset ensures that your experience is as full as possible, without tainting something that could be great. To put it succinctly, mindset matters.

Jacob Woodford is a senior at Hope, studying Political Science, Psychology, and Kinesiology on the pre-law track. Outside of school, he is a goalie for the Hope Hockey team, a senior class representative for Student Congress, tour guide for admissions, participated in Nykerk Play (odd year every year, baby), and am involved in Campus Ministries. He is originally from Colorado Springs, CO, and is hoping to attend law school following graduation.

The Five Messages: Ask For Help

Asking for help is not a strength of mine. In fact, it might have been the most challenging thing for me to work through freshman year. When I was asked to write about one of the 5 messages of Orientation, “Ask for Help,” I almost laughed out loud. This is the one value that I struggle with the most. I have been, and always will be, horrible at mustering up the strength to ask for help when I need it.

To most people, this sounds, well… pathetic. This struggle extends back to when I was a kid. A fiercely independent child, from the day that doing something on my own was an option, that’s all I wanted to do. “Let me do it,” and “I can do it by myself,” were the two most important phrases in my toddler vocabulary. This independent mindset transferred to high school, where I became the girl who did the group project all on her own. Whether it was asking for help from my teachers, parents, or even my peers, the thought of having to rely on someone else felt like failure.

What makes asking for help so hard?

This is exhausting, but I didn’t notice exactly how so until college. I felt so incredibly welcomed by my professors and friends that it seemed there could never be a time where I would ever feel uncomfortable asking for help again. This, however, is easier said than done. After breezing through the first month of classes, my first college midterms, and ¾ of the semester, final exams lurked ahead of me and I knew I wasn’t ready. In one of my more challenging classes, there was a topic that we had learned early on that was pivotal to the rest of the content of the semester. If I could just understand this one piece of material, I could connect the dots for the rest of the semester’s work. But I didn’t want to budge. I consulted google, I nonchalantly wondered about the topic out loud to my friends, yet everyone seemed to know it but me.

 So much value can be added to your Orientation experience when you ask for help when you need it.

 I finally decided there must only be one way to really answer this: going to my professor’s office hours. So there I went, sweating in fear of disappointing my favorite professor or sounding dumb. I swear it took me three breaths to even pull up the courage to knock on the office door. But I left with a smile and a complete understanding of the topic, plus a deeper relationship with a professor who I knew I would never disappoint with a question. 

2019 Assistant Directors

This is just one of the many instances where asking for help is difficult, but it strengthens character. At Hope, no faculty member wants you to walk through something alone, especially if you’re struggling. And that goes for Hope staff and students as well! So much value can be added to your Orientation experience when you ask for help when you need it. Remember, even if you haven’t met them yet, you have a whole cheering squad just waiting for you to arrive on campus. I can’t wait to meet you in August!

My name is Grace Purdue and I’m a rising junior from Grand Rapids, MI, studying Chemistry with an interest in becoming a science communicator or researcher. I’m involved in Student Congress, Nykerk Song, Dance Marathon, Campus Ministries, IM sports, and a job in the ticket office. Orientation is my favorite weekend of the fall semester, so I can’t wait to see you on campus!