Blog - Page 79 of 147 - Life at Hope College

Family Weekend!

Hello and Happy Halloween! As I am writing this from the comfort of my warm and cozy room, I can’t help but look outside of my window and see students bundled up in coats, boots and warm hats. I don’t want to accept the fact that winter is almost here:( Anyway, while I prepare myself for the cold weather, I am still excited about Family Weekend. Starting today through Sunday, Hope will be offering tons of fun activities for parents (and siblings!) to do on campus. My mom and aunt are coming to visit me tomorrow! They came to visit me last year, but campus looks a bit different now, so I am excited to show them around. If you have family coming into town, here are some things I suggest you do while they are here:

1. Give them a campus tour!

Yes, it will most likely be cold tomorrow, so warn your family to come bundled up so you can give them a tour of campus! Show them your dorm hall and introduce them to your awesome roommate and friends 🙂 Show them where most of your classes are and even where you go to study as well as where you spend time hanging out with your friends. Check out Hope’s interactive map, if you haven’t already.

2. Eat at Phelps

Trust me when I say that Phelps is SO much nicer than it was when I was a freshman. It’s a lot bigger and the seat are so much comfortable. Take the time to sit down with your family, eat a good meal, and plan out the rest of your day. My mom has reminded me many times already that she just HAS to eat at Phelps the first thing when she arrives, so I can’t wait to show her around! Ticket prices to eat at Phelps are: Adults – $6.00, Children (5-12) – $3.00, Children (Under 5) – Free.

3. Go to the Juried Student Art Show

Our piece! #untitled — Our piece! #girlsrule

I am a little biased with this suggestion because I worked at the gallery this semester, but this year’s exhibit is worth seeing. Every year, students are able to submit a piece of artwork that is judged by a well known judge or curator, but this year ALL students were encouraged to submit something. There were pieces of paper left over from last year’s exhibit, so instead of throwing them away, students were encouraged to create an art piece with the paper as long as it retained its original dimensions (i.e. no cutting). My roommate and I decided to submit one, and we thought it came out pretty great! Check out the exhibit’s opening today at 4pm or tomorrow from 10am-5pm at the DePree Art Gallery.

4. Go to Nykerk!

I took my mom to see Nykerk last year not only to show her one of Hope’s many traditions, but also because some of my friends were participating. Even and odd year compete through song, play and oration and seeing everything come together makes for a very entertaining evening! Sadly tickets are currently sold out, but if you managed to buy them beforehand, enjoy the show! 80th Annual Nykerk Cup Competition, DeVos Fieldhouse, Saturday, Nov. 1 at 7 pm.

5. Let your Sibling Sleepover!

If you have younger siblings, I think this is a great way to spend some alone time with them while the rest of the family goes off to do other things. Take them to Graves Hall to watch The Lego Movie and eat some snacks–it’s free! If I had younger siblings, I would have loved to show them around my dorm hall and have a fun sleepover 🙂

If you want to see a fully schedule of all Family Weekend Events, see here: http://www.hope.edu/parents/family-weekend

Hope you enjoy your weekend!

Catch up with me on Twitter @HopeMarisela16 or send me an email at marisela.meraz@hope.edu if you have any questions!

The Singer Without a Voice

Since the beginning of the semester, I’ve felt a little weird. The day after residents moved in at the end of August, my voice got really hoarse. After a few days, it backed off a little bit, but it hasn’t ever felt right since. The upper part of my range is far weaker than normal, I can barely sing two measures on one breath, my voice fatigues quickly, my vocal tone is breathier than normal…

The list goes on.

And on.

It’s a bummer if I’ve ever seen one.

I am in Chapel Choir and voice lessons at Hope and serve on worship teams at churches around Holland, and I’ve just always been a singer, so having all these problems with my voice became a major problem very quickly. Almost a month ago, my voice professor and I decided that my problems had persisted for long enough that I should see a specialist. I made an appointment with an otolaryngologist for last Friday, and he scoped my nose and throat with a little camera to see what was going on. It was actually pretty cool to be able to see the inside of my head, until we got to what we were really looking for: My vocal folds. The doctor had me say a couple of things and watched what happened (SO weird!) and then one of my biggest fears in life was realized: I have a nodule on my vocal chords (Yes, movie fans, it’s a node like in Pitch Perfect.). The doctor assured me, despite the fact that I was basically terrified, that I would be okay and recommended that I start by talking to my voice professor and possibly visiting a speech pathologist.

On Monday of this week, I went in to talk to my voice professor, who recommended at least a week of complete vocal rest. I had to speak at WyldLife club that night, so I started the next morning.

That’s right, folks.

I haven’t spoken or sung for almost a full three days.

Now you might be thinking, “How in the world are you doing that?” Let me tell you: I have literally no idea besides the fact that I really want to get better. I’m communicating via whiteboard, notes, email, and my computer speaking for me via Google translating from English to English (But sometimes it still translates wrong… Life is hard.). One of the hardest parts of this for me has been not being able to say “hi” or “thank you” or “good, how are you?” to people. I feel pretty rude all the time but there’s not too much I can do other than wearing a sign around my neck that says “I am on vocal rest and cannot speak.” Hey, maybe I should…

Anyway, on Monday night before I started this, my best friend Allix said to me, “Every time you’re wondering why you can’t talk, ask God what he needs to show you that you need to be silent for.” I’m so thankful for her perspective on something I was dreading. To be honest, it’s been hard for me to remember to do that, and my attitude has been less than positive throughout the week. I’ve drawn lots of sad faces on my whiteboard. Case in point:

Sad face — This is a frequent occurrence.

Yesterday, these song lyrics popped up in my head.

If I had no voice, if I had no tongue, I would dance for You like the rising sun.

I know for a fact that I have tweeted and sung and written down those lyrics multiple times before, telling myself that if for some reason I couldn’t sing someday, I would find joy in other things that God has given me and praise him with things that aren’t my voice.

Newsflash: I haven’t been doing that.

Being a singer, whether I would have ever admitted it or not, has always been my biggest identity marker. I know it should have been Jesus and if you would have asked me, I would have claimed that it definitely was Jesus. But this week, I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that it most certainly was not. That’s one thing I’m learning. I’ve told myself time and time again that I’ve put everything in God’s hands, that he is my source of joy, that my identity is found first and foremost and to its fullest in him, but I wasn’t truly in a place where all those things were true for me. I thought that changing my major from music to religion was a step in the right direction, and maybe it was, but that still didn’t change my mindset about who I was. My identity was still so rooted in being a singer. I’m realizing that I don’t exactly know what it means to trust God when I’m faced head-on with one of the things I’ve always feared the most. I’m learning that I don’t really have a clue about how to choose joy and praise the One who gives and takes away when he takes away the one thing that has always sinfully defined me, and I’m finally admitting to myself that I’ve used the gift he gave me so, so many times for my own glory and not his.

I’m less than halfway through my planned week of silence, but who knows how long I will really have to quit talking before I am fully healed? As I wrestle with my frustrations and failures and I learn to think, pray, and reflect more than I talk, I know that God still has more to show me. One thing is for sure though: My identity has to be in Him. Everything else is temporary. Everything else can be taken away. God is steadfast, and he is good.

Keep up with me on Twitter (@hopekathryn17), Instagram (@kathrynekrieger), and via email at kathryn.krieger@hope.edu! Thanks for reading!

“We bring nothing at birth; we take nothing with us at death.

The Lord alone gives and takes. Praise the name of the Lord!”

Job 1:21

Chicago Day Trip!!!

I haven’t written you all a blog in quite a while now that fellow blogger, Marvin, and I have been doing some video blogs about campus buildings! If you haven’t seen them, you should check them out! Anyways, last weekend I had quite an adventure that I thought I would share with everyone. My housemates and I went to Chicago for the day and enjoyed a warm day in the Windy City. Every year, the Student Activities Committee (SAC) has a trip for students and bring them to Chicago for only $5! I look forward to this trip every year because I typically go with my closest friends and then get to see other friends and family once I’m there in Chicago. Here’s a breakdown of the day:

Everybody met near the flagpole on campus and left for Chicago in charter buses at 9:00 am. About three or four buses usually take students, so it’s a pretty big activity!
After three or so hours of driving, we finally arrive in the heart of the city and the buses drop us all off and let us wander around and do whatever we want!
My friends and I went immediately to the Water Tower and other stores around there and got some quick shopping in before meeting up with my brother for a little bit.
We all scrambled trying to find my brother and when we finally did, we were craving smoothies. Fortunately, the Water Tower has a smoothie place that we flocked to and quickly hydrated before doing more shopping.
All of my friends and brother went to various stores including Anthropology, which I’ve never been in before, and looked at all of their knick-knacks. Despite the steep prices, it’s such a cool place to wander around and smell candles and whatever else you find there!
It was approaching the late afternoon and we all wanted to go to the Cheesecake Factory for an early dinner so we headed over there. Unfortunately they don’t take reservations so we had to just wait it out until we were seated. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been to the Cheesecake Factory, but it was GLORIOUS! Go there if you ever have the opportunity!
It was time to head back so we all rushed back to the bus at 7:00 pm and got settled in for another long ride. I’m pretty sure most people fell asleep on the way back due to pure exhaustion after walking around all day. Once we arrived back to Hope, it was funny to see everyone carrying a bunch of bags full of things they bought and disperse to their respective dorms or apartments.

My brother and I in Chicago! — My brother and me in Chicago!

My housemates and me enjoying some time shopping and walking around — My housemates and I enjoying some time shopping and walking around

This trip has always been a highlight of the year for me and it comes at the perfect time each year when you just need to get away from campus for a little bit. For anyone that is reading this, I strongly suggest looking into this great SAC activity!!! Spots fill up quickly so you have to keep a close eye on when sign-ups are!

Have a great rest of your week and don’t forget to follow me @hopeleslie15!!!

The ‘Kerk is here!

November is just a few days away, and what’s a better way to ring in the new month than with another one of Hope’s age old traditions? That’s right folks, you guessed it! Nykerk is this coming Saturday, November 1st!! And this year is a very special year, because it is also the traditions 80th year! 80 years of Nykerk! Wowza!

If you aren’t familiar with what Nykerk is, let me tell you, it’s nothing like you’ve ever seen. You’ve seen choirs, sure. You’ve even seen comical plays and people giving speeches. But you’ve never seen anything like Nykerk. The combination of catchy songs, and group choreography with props is so good, it’s sure to give you chills when you watch the Song Girls preform. And you’ll be sure to gain some abdominal muscles when watching the Play Girls do their thing as well. Their plays are always packed with Hope humor and big actions and story lines. So entertaining! But when you hear Oration, forget everything you ever knew about public speaking, because these girls truly redefine the act by bringing so much emotion to the audience, that the entire room is silent.

If you’re still curious about what Nykerk is all about, here’s a little taste of what the Odd Year ’17 Song Girls preformed last year.

Crazy, right?!

How did they learn all those moves and all those melodies while managing to keep smiles on their faces and making it look effortless?! Truly, so much work goes into Nykerk and it does NOT go unnoticed because every year the performances are amazing.

Last year, I didn’t participate in Nykerk and, because of my participation this year, I have no idea why I didn’t. It is such a great way to meet girls that are excited about singing and being part of something so much bigger than yourselves. It brought back my love of music that I lost after high school choir and I’ve made so many more friends through this wonderful experience.

This is just a taste of what this weekend will hold for you, should you choose to go to Nykerk. I really encourage everyone to go, because it’s such a wonderfully unique tradition, but if you can’t make it out, don’t worry! In next week’s blog, I’ll have all the details of the entire competition.

Until next time, readers!

A Senior’s Take on Time Management

One thing that every college student knows, no matter what point they’re at, is that it’s really easy to get so wrapped up in homework and extracurriculars that time to unwind and relax often gets pushed to the wayside. There’s usually no shortage of things to do, the problem is remembering to make time in the first place. This leads to annoying stress and breakouts that nobody has time for, so I figured I’d share some of the ways that I force myself to relax here at Hope.

Something that really helps me make time for fun is finding an hour-long weekly TV show or two to watch religiously. The two shows I’ve watched since they started are The Walking Dead on Sundays at 9:00PM on AMC, and Agents of SHIELD which airs Tuesdays at 9:00PM on ABC. One issue I used to run into is that I can’t always make time at the time the show airs. Thanks to the Internet though, many of the bigger TV channels put their shows online the next day to watch for free. I usually watch SHIELD on Thursdays so that I have a spread out hour where I have nothing to do.

During these breaks from life, one of the most important things I do is that I turn off notifications on my MacBook, and I put my iPhone into Do Not Disturb mode. Your friends will survive if they can’t reach you for two hours a week, and being on your phone generally isn’t very relaxing.

The main thing to take away from this post is that college is stressful and you have to make time to unwind. Holding in stress doesn’t help anyone, and that’s just a fact. How do you relax after a tough week? Let me know in the comments!

Bromance at its Finest

As defined by Merriam-Webster, a bromance is “a close nonsexual friendship between men.” Hmmm….sounds about right!

Something I have been able to find at college…Bromance. Meet my bro and roomie this year, Noah.

He’s a pretty rad dude. Noah and I met around second semester my freshman year. We hit it off right away and have been bros ever since having many of good adventures with each other, having great “pillow talks” (roomie talks when we go to bed at the same time), and have been able to hold each other accountable in many different aspects in out lives.

I know that so many people say “College is a time to make long-lasting relationships”…well guess what? They weren’t lying. I truly value the broship that I have with Noah. More than just Noah, I enjoy the relationships that I grow into daily.

bowl and noah — This is when Noah, a group of friends, and I went to this giant sand dune called the “Bowl” my freshman year.

But back to this Bromance. This particular broship is also extra exciting for me because it could be called one of my first bromances. In high school, I didn’t have many guy friends due to the small size of my school and me not understanding about how to be social. Before coming to college, It was my hope to find some solid male friendships as that is something my life had lacked. It took time (a little more than a semester), but eventually I did find it and what a privilege it is.

College is an amazing opportunity to make lasting relationships, because unlike high school, students are with their friends 24/7. In college, someone can use the opportunity and the people around for seriousness, accountability, and fun. Reason #248053945 why I like college, Community. Reason #1 why I like HOPE College: The Thriving Community.

For more about me, follow me on twitter @hopejohnluke17 or on Instagram at johnlukehawkins. Until next time!

What Am I Doing With My Life?

To answer that question in short, I’m going to school and I’m learning things. To answer that question in the more complicated form…I don’t know. The truth about me is that I have no idea what to major in or what I want to do with my life after college.

And according to other people, this is okay. Yet in my mind the issue is a blinking red billboard right in front of me all of the time, because it’s my future; how could I not be worried?

Lately around the Hope campus, everyone has been getting frazzled about scheduling, which happens next week. I’m just as lost as the next student. I have no idea what classes to take. To make matters worse, I was too late to schedule an appointment with Career Development since they were booked up until after scheduling…

Except that when that didn’t work out, Career Development helped me make an appointment with someone else to help me, without my even asking! I hear countless stories of people figuring out their calling, and about how it will all work out in the end. I don’t need to know where I’m going right now or where I’m going to end up, because I’m here at Hope. (But while that’s easy to think…I still worry, just not as much)

All I have to say is that if you’re coming into college without an idea of what you want to do, that’s perfectly okay and you’re not alone. Hope’s liberal arts gets you exposed to almost everything, and the Career Development resources allow you to become more self-informed so you can find the calling that brings you the most joy.

Hope is forever proving to me that I could not be more supported in my journey. It warms my heart.

Brooke

If you have any questions for me you can contact me at brookelyn.wharton@hope.edu, through Facebook, or my twitter @hopebrooke18! I’d love to answer them!

In the Name of Tradition and Nykerk Love: Candlelight

This month I have been blessed with the opportunity to be a part of the Hope College Tradition of Nykerk. The fun, community, and experience of playing a small role in something as big as this 80 year long tradition are memories I will be able to recall forever. In addition, last night will be another one of these treasured memories.

On Monday night I participated in another piece of the Nykerk tradition: Candlelight. Even and Odd Year Song gathered in Wichers Auditorium. I met my Odd Year sister who gave me a glass she decorated and we all learned Hope’s Alma Mater.

This is the decorated glass my Odd year sister, Elizabeth, gave to me to hold my candle for Candlelight

Then we made our way to Maas Auditorium where all of the Nykerk participants, including Even and Odd Year Song, Play and Oration, gathered with our decorated glasses, a candle placed within. We were lucky enough to have a beautiful, unseasonably warm night as we made our way out of Maas towards Lubbers. All the Morale boys lined the sidewalk, lighters in hand, to light up all the candles in their beautifully decorated glasses (or, as some called them, Goblets of Fire 😉 )

Finally, as a large, 400+ member Nykerk Family, we made our way to the President’s house. Before we sang the alma mater for President and Mrs. Knapp we paused and raised our glowing goblets of fire for President Knapp to snap a picture.
(Side Note: President Knapp uses Twitter all the time to post about everything happening at Hope from free food on his patio, to Nykerk Candlelight. So, if you feel the need to have that in your life via Twitter you can see more here 🙂 )

Here is President Knapp's picture that he tweeted. I'm in there! (towards the back. Yeah, the one raising a glass with a candle in it!) — Here is President Knapp’s picture that he tweeted. I’m in there! (towards the back. Yeah, the one raising a glass with a candle in it!)

On the surface, Candlelight was a fun time to walk around campus with candles and sing while being lost among a large group of friends and strangers under the common tie of Nykerk love. However, on a deeper level Candlelight reminded me of how neat it is to be a part of community. To come together under a common cause despite age or year or competition, is encouraging. It brings to mind Psalm 133:1, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” I think this verse represents quite well the goal of community here at Hope. Candlelight reminded me of how thankful I am to be in Nykerk, just a smaller scaled portion of the greater Hope College community, and how good and pleasant it truly is.

~Erin
For more of my thoughts and pictures of the Hope College life you can check out my Twitter and Instagram

I Don’t Know About You, but I’m Feelin’ 20 Without the Extra Two

I turned twenty on the twenty-third.

I’ve been taking the past few days to think about my journey– all of the experiences that have led me to where I am today. And with that in mind, I’d like to share with you a snapshot of each age (or groups of ages) that have shaped me to become the “Sophie” that you know.

Age 1: It’s okay to look goofy.

This is me, at age 1, with a snarky smile, crazy curly hair, and giant ears (Luckily, I eventually grew into them.)

Age 2: Sharing is fun… most of the time. My brother was born just before I turned two, which changed everything for me– no longer was I an only child, but instead, I was blessed by a kid who has taught me, supported me, and loved me through it all… and I was given the opportunity to give that same love and support back to him.

Age 3: Looking at other people with love is powerful.

Here's Harrison, my younger brother, and I. We've been besties from the beginning. — Here’s Harrison, my younger brother, and me. We’ve been besties from the beginning.

Age 4: Smiling is good for your soul. Not only can fake smiling cause real happiness, but it can also cause other people to smile, too.

Here's my dad and I, just hanging out. — Here’s my Dad and I, with smiles from ear to ear.

Age 5: School is scary. And that’s okay. You’ll get through it, make friends, and learn how to swing on the swings by yourself eventually. (Note: beginning college is like starting kindergarten. You got through it then, and you can get through it now, too.)

Age 6: Having amazing teachers in your life can change everything. Having role models and mentors can transform your life– do not take them for granted, nor miss the opportunity to let them shape you in your journey.

Age 7: You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. Don’t worry about not wanting to play kickball at recess. By sitting on the tire swing instead, you might just meet a new friend.

Age 8: Not getting to have a popsicle because you couldn’t remember the answer to 8 x 6 isn’t the end of the world. (This incident was one of the first times I felt full motivation to complete something I had previously failed. Now, I have forgotten most other multiplication, but I remember that 8 x 6 is definitely 48.) Working toward success after failure can be so powerful.

Age 9: Math isn’t easy, and it will never be easy, but there are other talents to acquire and nurture. The concept of long division still escapes me… but this realization led me to realize that although I will never be a veterinarian, I make for a great Communication major.

I might not succeed at math, but I love to read, and Harrison and I loved to read together when we were little.

Ages 10-13: Embrace your inner self, because your outer self might not be lookin’ so great. I was blessed with glasses, braces, and crazy curly hair all at once. I loved my bright pink zip-up Adidas sweatsuit, Crocs, and pigtails. I wish I had a picture to show you this, but unfortunately (or fortunately) my high school self voluntarily misplaced most of the pictures associated with this experience.

Ages 14-18: High school will not be the best experience of your life, but it will not be the worst, either. For the first time, you have new freedom to pick and choose your battles and pick and choose your values. You can do every extracurricular activity or focus simply on your studies. Your friends are great, but your family is better. Wearing the same shirt that your brother did to school is less of a big deal now than it was in middle school. Who you are will continue to change, and you will grow and discern your truth as your journey continues.

Having it look like your brother might be your prom date is also okay... just for the record, we both had other dates, it was simply a coincidence we both wore pink. Here's our mom and dad with us, too! — Having it look like your brother might be your prom date senior year is also okay… just for the record, we both had other dates, it was simply a coincidence we both wore pink. Here’s our mom and dad with us, too!

Age 19: Faith. Wow. For the first time, the words “grace” and “faith” had real meaning for me. I learned to trust in God, love Jesus, and follow the Spirit. That changed my life. Never before had I relied on Him the way I do now. And not only do I have faith in God, but I have faith in myself, and faith in other people– a confidence in knowing that for me, hope in the unseen is one of the most powerful experiences I will encounter in my life.

Age 20: It’s okay to not have your life totally together. I still live in a college dorm. I don’t have my career/life plan totally mapped out. No longer being a teenager does not magically create more maturity nor does it provide an ability to know every plan for your life. It does, however, provide one step closer to the reality of real life. And that, my friends, is super cool.

What’s your most significant life experience that has shaped you to become the person you are today? Comment below or tweet at me @hopesophie17.Questions or comments can be sent to me at sophie.guetzko@hope.edu. Have a great week!

SAC Chicago Shopping Trip 2014 Recap

Somehow I made it all the way into my Junior year not knowing about the annual SAC Chicago Shopping Trip. It only costs $5, and that $5 gets you a bus ride to Chicago for an entire day. I had so much fun on the trip last year that I knew I had to get my name in as soon as possible this year.

This was the first time in a while where being up at 8:00 AM didn’t bother me so much, and my apartment mate and I both made sure to have a couple cups of coffee before we left. The ride itself only took a couple of hours and before we knew it we were walking around Michigan Avenue.

We had lunch at Portillo’s, a super good hotdog place that we don’t have here in Michigan, and I made sure to follow my friend Greg’s order to a T (see the video below). After we ate lunch we decided that it was time to find more coffee. We spent way too long looking for somewhere that wasn’t Starbucks, but after a while we just gave up and went to Starbucks.

Feeling more awake we decided it was time to shop. We hit every store we possibly could on Michigan Avenue, and we took a few pictures on the bridge. We put in our names for dinner at The Cheesecake Factory, and by the time we were done it was almost time to head home. I don’t remember the ride back because I basically passed out as soon as I sat down.

I think it’s really cool and really unique that Hope give students this opportunity every year with basically no barrier of entry related to cost. It’s definitely one of those cool experiences that you can only have at Hope.

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