Senior Experiences

Whenever I see visiting students walking around campus or in chapel, I always make an effort to welcome them or help them with directions, etc. I remember my visit days oh too well–trying to mask how freaked out I was, unsure about how to hold the massive orange folder on my campus tour, and sitting at chapel feeling awkward that my mom was taking a video of the worship team. I was beyond overwhelmed. But it was the kind words of students at chapel, or at Phelps dining hall, or students that gave us directions around Hope’s small, yet somehow very confusing, campus that made me think for the first time, “Wow, I think I really could see myself here.” 

And now here I am–about to graduate again. It’s funny how life can often feel cyclical. As a senior, I’m the furthest in age from these highschool seniors, yet I relate to them so much. I feel like I’m carrying around a fluorescent orange folder that seems to just scream to the world: “Ask me what I want to do with my life!” A wave of more decisions looms ahead. 

Although my senior year at Hope is certainly comparable to senior year of high school, it has also given me a frame of reference to truly analyze and appreciate the person I have become these last four years.

Academically, I have been stretched and strengthened. Spiritually, Hope has deeply impacted my walk with Jesus and the way I love others. Relationally, I am overwhelmingly grateful for the friendships God has given me, and I am proud of the friend I myself have become. Hope’s community, even beyond peer relationships, has given me incredible relationships with faculty and staff that will far outlive my four years of undergrad.

My professors have always committed time and energy to my learning in the classroom, but their investment in my life as an individual has become what I believe to be the biggest blessing that comes from small, private liberal arts institutions such as Hope. Several of my professors have hosted classes at their homes, set time apart in their day to meet with students to offer career advice, and seek to truly understand and know their students. Hope’s community is priceless.  

Senior year has been a compilation of favorite college memories and bittersweet lasts–the uncomfortable, awkward limbo of trying to soak in every moment and, simultaneously, begin transitioning to a new chapter of life. Among my favorite memories from this year are going to hockey and basketball games with my friends, leading a bible study through campus ministries, concluding my two majors with favorite classes, and doing life with my five amazing housemates. 

So many people told me that the college years go so fast, but I failed to realize how right they were. An entire season of your life–a profoundly impactful season–is jam packed into four short years. So to the incoming freshman or even a high school senior walking through their campus tour, I encourage you to live into every moment.

The terrifying new place that ripped me away from my hometown became a new home that I must again muster the strength to say goodbye to. But the education Hope has given me, the relationships forged, and personal growth that Hope has equipped me with will go with me throughout the rest of my life. And for that, I am grateful.

Choosing a Major

For the majority of high school, my heart was set on being a political science major when I got to college. I had big dreams of getting my degree, working in DC, and eventually running for political office. Then I changed my mind. About a month after getting to college, I realized that I actually don’t want to do any of that. Without a major plan, I felt lost. I had no idea what the next four years were going to look like, which is really scary. As time has gone on, I’ve thought more about what I want to do while at Hope. Here are some of the things I’ve considered as I’ve rethought my course of study:

What do I like?

This may seem obvious. It’s what literally everyone tells you in high school after all. However, what I failed to consider is that it’s not just about the classes I like. Hobbies and interests can easily become a major option. For example, I love public speaking, so the communications major might suit me. I also want to learn another language, so I could also do a major in one of the many languages Hope offers. In college, there are a lot more options for fields of study than high school, so your future major may not be something you ever heard about before. 

Try things out

As a liberal arts college, Hope has a diverse set of gen ed requirements, designed to create a well-rounded student body. The gen eds are a great way to explore different interests. For example, I’m currently taking computer science to fulfill my natural science requirement. This has been great for someone like me who doesn’t like most lab sciences, but has enjoyed programming in the past. Even if you can’t fulfill a gen ed with a class you want to take, consider taking it anyway. With the way Hope’s curriculum is designed, there’s room for students to take an elective here and there. Even if you end up deciding that field of study isn’t for you, it’s a good thing to knock out the option earlier rather than later.

Meet with Faculty

One of the great things about Hope is that the faculty are always a great resource. Everyone has an advisor, who I recommend going to with questions. If they don’t know how to help, then they’ll direct you to someone who will. Every meeting I’ve had with a professor has been incredibly helpful, and they have made it clear that I have support no matter what path I go down.

Don’t Be Scared!

The idea of picking what you want to pursue in college may seem intimidating, but it’s not nearly as scary as I expected. Right now, my plan is to double major in computer science and Chinese studies, but that very well may change. And that’s okay! Especially as a freshman, I know that I have time to think about what I want to do and to explore different options.

Hope College: Top 5 Reasons

Hope College is a college experience unlike any other. In the center of the action in Holland, Michigan, Hope College brings unique life, opportunities and growth. There are plenty of opportunities to love Hope, and today I want to share a few with you!

The Students

The students at Hope College bring life into every room they’re a part of.  I have never found such a caring and thoughtful group of students at such a large scale. From my first time walking on campus, I knew that the students made Hope special. My first visit day, I was welcomed into a dorm room for a short visit to see what a room looked like. Instead of spending a few minutes there, the students let me stay for hours asking questions about life and the college. That one experience alone kept Hope College at the top of my list.

The Activities

During the week and on the weekends, there is always something to do at Hope College. The student run event group called “SAC” (Student Activities Committee) puts on events that mirror things students want to do. Also, SAC uses student feedback to create events such as frequent movie nights, food truck days, and CoffeeHouse – which is live music in the student center. These activities are plentiful and of high quality. I chose to include this on my list for its relevance to my day-to-day life on campus. The college is able to allocate lots of resources to these activities, which makes the quality very high.

The Academics

Hope College offers true rigor in its courses. Once students have a declared major, they are able to take higher level courses in the specific field they are interested in. This ability gives students agency to move within their required courses, and still take others they are interested in. By taking classes that you are interested in, students are able to best understand the field of study they are in. Hope College academics are worthy of praise on the list because of their continued praise in the larger community. Hope College has time after time ranked in the Top 25 of U.S. News and World Report Undergraduate Research and Creative Projects.

The Opportunities

Many opportunities outside of academics live at Hope College. Greek Life is on campus, as well as Dance Marathon – both of which I participate in. These are opportunities to spend your time in communion with people that think similarly to you, and also want to help others. My experience with Dance Marathon has been nothing but positive, and I will have had the opportunity to attend the event all four years on campus. The sheer amount of money raised as a college for the kids keeps this on the list for me.

The Personal Growth

College is a time for self-discovery and personal growth. At Hope College, there are ample resources to keep you connected and in touch with interests you have, new and old. Clubs, activities, extracurriculars, co-curriculars, and so much more bring out the best in students. There is also the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) on campus. CAPS is there to help you work through some of the larger questions in your life discernment. Again, the college truly cares about you the student. That translates to high-class services, and deserves a spot on this list.

To learn more about opportunities at Hope College, visit:

https://hope.edu/admissions/

There’s Nothing Like Setting Foot on a Campus

Reasons to Visit a College

“Why do I need to visit a college when I can do all my research online and get virtual tours?” A valid question, yet, I can promise everyone with this idea that there is absolutely nothing like setting a foot onto a campus sidewalk. Engaging with students enrolled and shaking a professor’s hand.

Technology has taken over most aspects of life. We can do pretty much anything behind a screen. Yet, real-world experiences, no matter what they are, will always impact you in a different way. You get to see for yourself the looming buildings and hear the buzzing excitement of conversation inside a dining hall. Those are aspects you can not get watching a virtual tour and doing research on a college’s statistics.

Visiting Hope College

Hope College is rooted in downtown Holland. A beautiful town near Lake Michigan with tons of shops and restaurants just waiting for you to walk into. The campus, while seemingly vast, is covered in trees that turn the whole college into a golden wonderland in the fall and a blooming rainbow in spring.

You could visit Hope College during any season and get to experience its beauty. I myself visited on a dreary fall day, but the community was warm and I found myself taking everything in that I could. My tour guide was a junior at the time and seemed to be friends with everyone. That was an aspect that really drew me to choosing Hope, everyone was so kind. I had students ask if I wanted to sit with them for my lunch, engaging with this awkward high school junior who might have stared too much.

Campus Visits

There are so many campus visits happening weekly at Hope College. A new young-adult who is considering Hope as their home for four-years. The tour guides are cheery students who always look forward to meeting perspective students and introducing them to Hope. Scheduling a campus visit with Hope is very simple online.

Whether you want to attend a showcase as your first visit or come on a Junior Day, you have the ability to schedule those specific kinds of visits. There are also options such as custom individual and overnight visits. Any of these kinds of visits can be discussed with people who work in Admissions at Hope College.

Final Pitch

If you are even considering Hope College as a perspective college, go. Visit in-person it that is possible for you to do. Seeing the sun hitting one of the burnt orange bricked buildings or the way the light pours through the Rose Window in Dimnent Chapel will never look the same through a photograph online.

All are welcome at Hope College.

Transformed By Hope

As I approach my last semester at Hope College, I have spent more and more time thinking about my experiences at Hope, what I’ve learned in my classes, and what I’ve learned about life. The other day I was at chapel and the speaker said, “Guys, I don’t know if you’ve realized this, but college is really hard. It’s really hard – but it’s supposed to be.” I’ve been sitting on his words for a week, and I don’t think his words could ring more true. Moving away from home, making friends, living with roommates, taking difficult classes, adjusting to a college schedule, and all the other things that make college a unique season of life are all so important, but they are also hard. And they’re supposed to be. I could talk about the many ways Hope has transformed me– through its top-level academics, the amazing friendships it has provided me, faculty and staff that went above and beyond to grow me as an individual, and a campus ministry team that loves students wholeheartedly–but if I really think about it, nothing has transformed me at Hope more than the hard. 

As a freshman, I came to Hope on a hail mary pass. All summer long I had prayed about whether Hope was the right place for me. Terrified to leave my family and the incredible community I had at home, I dreaded all the unknown. It was the first time I truly had to trust God with my future. When I moved into Dykstra with 200 other Hope College freshmen, God met me with two incredible roommates that helped me transition into college so much smoother than I ever anticipated. I was thriving at school, and yet, Freshman year didn’t go without its hard nights of feeling lonely, misunderstood, and homesick. I learned that even in the midst of all highs and all the lows (which often happened within the same day), God was with me. 

My Sophomore year at Hope was met with a whole new wave of hard. Although we arrived back on campus, COVID-19 restrictions had drastically altered the way classes were taught and the way students interacted with one another. Online and hybrid classes challenged my ability to learn, I was taking 18-credits and my courses were far more difficult than any classes I had taken prior, and health parameters made me feel incredibly isolated. I began to question everything: “Am I in the right majors?” “Am I at the right school?” “Why does God feel so absent?” College is hard. But, it’s supposed to be. In all the questions, God was molding me into who I am becoming. He was teaching me endurance, that my feelings are important but they aren’t always true, and that trusting that God is good is more important than having all the answers to life’s questions. 

Junior and senior year have been some of my favorite years of my life. I am so thankful for my 5 housemates, professors that will my success, and for all the many other people at Hope that make it the amazing community that it is. God has taught me so much about listening to others, even those who hold very different opinions or worldviews. He has also taught me so much about finding joy in my everyday life. I wake up excited to go to class, work on group projects, workout, or simply spend time with friends. I have learned so much at Hope, but more than maybe any other lesson, I have learned to embrace the hard. The hardest moments have stretched me, strengthened me, and equipped me for life beyond Hope College. 


College is hard, but God meets us in the hard and plants seeds–seeds of Hope. And that is a truly incredible thing to look back on.

Financial Aid at Hope College

When I was applying for college, financial aid was probably one of the things that stressed me out the most. All the new information I was receiving was overwhelming. I barely knew where to begin! Now that I’m in college, there’s a lot that I’d like to go back in time and tell myself. Here are the things that I wish I could explain to past me about financial aid at Hope College.

FAFSA

The most important thing to do is to fill out the FAFSA. It takes the income of your parents/guardians and calculates your government aid eligibility. Without it, you won’t be able to receive any government aid. Even if you think you wouldn’t get anything, fill it out anyways! You may be surprised, and doing it now will make it easier for you in the future. If you’re totally lost on how to do it, keep an eye out for what resources your high school provide. My school had a night dedicated to the FAFSA. Families could come to learn about the form and ask questions about it. Hope also provides resources for families filling out the FAFSA and is happy to answer your questions. The FAFSA needs to be filled out every year, so if there are any current college students reading this, get on it!

Scholarships

Once you complete the FAFSA, then it’s time to look at merit scholarships. Even though Hope is currently test-optional, I highly recommend submitting your test scores, as they may get you better scholarships than if just your GPA is being considered. One thing that I love about Hope’s merit scholarships is that they accept the superscore of your SAT or ACT, meaning they look at the combination of your best sections instead of your best overall test score. Merit scholarships are automatically awarded to eligible accepted students, and notifications of your award usually come shortly after your acceptance.

Another good scholarship to look out for is the Distinguished Artist Award. This scholarship is around $3,000 a year and it goes to students who display skill in music, visual art, theatre, writing or dance. There is an application required, which you can request information about. It also requires a commitment to the art you receive a scholarship for. This scholarship is great for students who want to pursue one of these disciplines in college as a major, a minor or just for fun. 

Anchored Tuition

The Anchored Tuition Pledge provides confidence and financial peace of mind when a family budgets for their student’s time at Hope. This promises that a student will have the same full-time tuition rate each year during their four years at Hope. It also allows a student’s renewable scholarships to cover more, since a rising tuition rate would cause scholarships to retain less value over time. Anchored Tuition is just one part of Hope’s plan to make college more affordable and accessible.

Still Have Questions?

Totally understandable; financial aid is complicated! I highly recommend reaching out to your admissions advisor. Mine answered a lot of questions that I had, and if he didn’t know the answer, he could find someone that would. There are also discussions on financial aid during Anchor Days, so be sure to check one of those out. Best of luck!

To my Mentors: Thank you for Being a Friend

My Hope College experience can be attributed to one thing: community. My freshman year, it was very easy for me to assume that my community would be my peers. However, as I reflect on my nearly 4 years at Hope, I have come to realize and develop an appreciation for the mentors who I have been fortunate enough to consider as part of my community.

Mentors can be found outside of your major or interest areas. One of my favorite people to ever walk through the Pine Grove with was Kevin Kambo, a former Hope College Philosophy professor who I happened to meet once in Campus Ministries. At that moment, I had absolutely no interest in discussing Philosophy with him, but rather the tea he chose to brew. Since that accidental meeting, I have taken an interest in London Fogs, and questions of human dignity and memory. We are able to discuss not only tea and Philosophy, but also life and our well-being. And although Professor Kambo is now no longer in Holland, I look forward to catching up with him soon.

Hannah and former Professor Kambo sitting outside a restaurant window in Holland.
Former Professor Kambo and I in Holland

Mentors can even be found outside of our normal walks of life. While I am not an international student, I know that I can always walk into Jasmine Lowell’s office at the Fried Center for Global Engagement to chat. The first time Jasmine and I met was unexpected, just as unexpected as our 4 hour conversation that took place a few days later. Since that moment, Jasmine has been one of my biggest supporters, on and off-campus. One of my favorite memories happened during her visit to Washington, D.C., when I was studying off-campus. She unexpectedly accompanied me to a meeting that was last-minute so that we could spend time together. I could not ask for a better mentor, second mom, or a better friend.

Hannah and Jasmine Lowell of the Fried Center for Global Engagement taking a photo while in Washington D.C.
Jasmine and I in Washington D.C.

Mentors can be found everywhere on Hope’s campus, but I was fortunate enough to meet my first mentor, Nate Haveman, before I even knew where Holland was. I didn’t know it at the time, but Nate would end up being the reason I chose Hope. His passion for students and his intentionality in every interaction was eventually what resulted in my decision to attend Hope College. Since our first meeting, Nate has always been someone I can go to for a laugh, advice, random conversation, or a hug. I owe a huge part of who I am and where I’ve ended up to him, and I am forever grateful that he showed up at my high school nearly 5 years ago.

Hannah and Nate Haveman of Hope College admissions taking a photo on move-in day.
Nate and I on Move-In Day

These three people, and many more mentors, have been sources of inspiration and comfort on campus. They have witnessed me become the person I am today. They are part of my Hope community that I could not be without. I am a firm believer that mentors are just as important as friends. But if you’re lucky, they might even turn into your friends. 

Where You Belong; Getting Involved at Hope

Where to Begin

When you enter Hope College’s beautiful campus you are first blown away by the welcoming feeling. Then, you decide to get more involved. So you pull up the clubs and organizations website and are instantly overwhelmed. There are so many. Where do you even begin?

Begin with merely glancing through and taking notes of your interests. Even if there are clubs for things you’ve never tried but think are interesting, write it down. Who knows? You might love it more than you think.

Once you have some written down, go through and read into each one. Figure out if you would be willing to commit some time to an activity or group. Clubs and organizations are here for you to build community, but community is a two way street. Even if it’s a street you don’t walk that often, you need to walk it at least a little.

Personally

I am a part of so many clubs and organizations here at Hope. I am one of the leaders of English Club, I participate in intramurals, and I am involved in seven other organizations/clubs. While that may seem like a lot, it really isn’t. I have time for each, even if it’s attending only one meeting or event per semester. Through these connections I have developed many relationships that I never would have otherwise.

For those who are concerned, thinking; “I’m not a social person, will I be too overwhelmed? Could I even participate well enough?” I was in that same position when I started college. I hid away in my dorm room and kept to myself. Yet, I knew I wanted more. So I joined a bible study; a very small group of young women who wanted to grow in their faith together. It was the best decision I ever made. I met my now closest friend and found that I wasn’t forced to put myself out there. Yet, the women were so welcoming that I found myself being more open and involved as the semesters progressed.

This seemingly small step lead me to want to pursue more relationships. So, I went to the Hope website for clubs and organizations and started browsing. Then I sent out emails to the clubs asking to be placed on their email lists. Now, here I am, more involved than I ever thought an introvert like me could be.

What does this all mean?

It means you are welcome and wanted here at Hope. Your peers want to get to know you and interact with you. Students of Hope gather together to learn and grow through each other.

It doesn’t mean you are now obligated to make each meeting and attend every event hosted by the clubs and organizations you are apart of. It doesn’t mean worrying about meeting new people; you can drag your friend or roommate along even if they aren’t involved in that club yet. I did that my Sophomore year; I dragged a friend along to an event and now they are apart of that club as well.

Being apart of a club or organization here at Hope College means you are a contributing member of our large community. So, reach out. Join that club that’s been on your mind. Reach out to the event leaders and ask if you can help run the organization or club. But keep in mind, you are not judged if you miss an event or cannot attend meetings. We all have obligations to our classes and our mental health, do not put those at risk because you are worried you will miss out. I missed a meeting for the club I lead because I needed to work on homework and no one minded. I simply reached out and asked what I missed. My fellow leaders were more than happy to fill me in and wish me luck in my studies.

The clubs and organizations are here to help you create community at a school where you might not know a single face. To build you up and allow you to have some fun while completing an education. So what are you waiting for?

My Wild Adventure to Hope College

“The secret to getting ahead is getting started!”

– Robin Roberts

So let’s get started!

My admission process to Hope College was a whirlwind and very unexpected as I started my year during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though I may have never visited the campus, since I am from another country, my admissions story is something that I find unique and I want to share to other high school prospects who are thinking of studying at an institution like Hope College.

In January 2020, I was a high school senior set to study at the University of the Philippines in the heart of Manila while also debating if my other college acceptances were needed to be considered. Though I was set on this decision, I felt like I wanted a different and more holistic experience within my life and education journey. I took a risk and thought about applying alongside with other American, Asian, Australian and British international schools. After going through rigorous and intensive interviews with different admission officers alongside my family, I was awarded multiple fellowships and academic scholarships given my unique background. Yet, Hope College stood out to me because not only was it different, but it was also an experience I was willing to embark on.

Fast forward two and half years later, I am now right here at Hope College more than 8,000 miles away from my family writing this article. Don’t be sad though, because I want to share some tips and tricks that helped me go through the Hope College admissions process.

Jairus Meer standing in the Grand Rapids airport. The neon sign in the background reads, Welcome to West Michigan.
Arrival at Grand Rapids Airport to embark on my Hope College experience.

Start as Early as You Can

It is so tough to decide which college to go through because there are so many factors to consider. From the locality to the academic programs the institution offers, I felt so overwhelmed as to how much I needed to consider when it comes to a very important decision within my life. My best friend An Ha’24 who is pursuing a degree within the Education Department, mentioned at least visiting the campus of your choice once or twice. Hope College offers admissions tours hosted by Hope College students themselves so that you can get a feel of the campus. You can also participate in an Anchor Day where you get to visit campus alongside other high school students. If you can’t arrive on campus, Hope has a virtual map online where you can see the facilities, scenery and beauty of our campus. While doing this, do not be afraid to ask as many questions as you can whether that be through online or in-person connection.

“Definitely visit campus once or twice and attend an Anchor Day if you can”

An Bao Ha’24 (she/her)

One of my closest peers Ada Rios (’24) mentioned that starting your application early is important. I also encourage trying to take AP courses in high school. I think that there is more to college than just academics, so also try to have fun along the way like going to games and learning about clubs. For me, Hope College offers me a lot of opportunities to grow and learn.

Ask Questions and Stay Engaged

As a high school student, I always volunteered within a lot of different school projects and tried to explore what I really wanted to do and focus on that one passion of mine with the hope that I can pursue such a career in college. Given this, I focused on the one passion I loved the most, which is science, and tried to develop upon this further. From doing microbiology volunteer research work to meeting different people from the field, I think this is a good way to not only prep for college but also help you develop your own leadership skills and networking skills. Don’t forget to be authentic to what you do and don’t be afraid to make any mistakes at all!

Amadu Bah (’24), a Psychology and Philosophy double major, president of the Black Student Union and working within Hope College’s admissions office, mentioned such an important point of the process. As he reflected on his Hope admission process, he mentioned the friendliness and the overall ambiance was something he fell in love with. He also gave important advice when it came to building skills for your passion within high school.

Focus on being a leader in high school. Don’t just be apart of clubs, but do your best to hold leadership positions in a club or two that you care about most. Make sure that throughout your time in high school you are consistently engaging with the same clubs rather than being involved in too many clubs with little participation.

Amadu Bah ’24 (he/him)

Enjoy the process and have a strong support system!

I get it! It can be the most stressful part of your college career. However, I think that it is important for you to sometimes smile and simply be able to think about what you want to do. It is difficult and believe me, looking back, I wish that I told myself to smile along the way. I had so many high and low moments within this process and making sure that having an amazing support system whether that be a family member, friends or mentor is important. For me, it was my parents who really pushed me and encouraged me that I had so much potential alongside my teachers in high school. Now, I am so thankful for their overwhelming support and advice during this time.

Overall, I hope this blog helped you picture what the Hope College admissions process is like and that the experiences of my peers and mentors showed you why Hope College is such an amazing campus.

The Beaches Near Hope College

One of the reasons I chose Hope College was because of its location. Being from the Detroit area, I fell in love with the West Side of the state when I came here for the first time in high school. The nature and scenery are beautiful and there are fun things to do in Holland’s quaint downtown as well as Grand Rapids, but one of the biggest draws are definitely the beaches. Therefore, I wanted to provide a guide of the beaches around Hope’s Campus for anyone new to Hope or thinking of coming here! 

Holland State Park

There are multiple public beaches in the area and they are all breathtaking and fun to go to. The most popular is Holland State Park. The State Park is a 13 minute drive from campus and is home to the famous lighthouse referred to as “Big Red.” The State Park is a fun choice when you want to be in a lively atmosphere with volleyball courts and concessions. It is the closest distance to campus and on the way you pass a bunch of good restaurants to stop at for a bite to eat on your way back. If you have a state park pass, beach parking is free, otherwise it costs a few dollars. This was the beach I came to the most often as a freshman. 

Holland State Park and “Big Red” in September

Tunnel Park

Tunnel Park is the second busiest, although you encounter less traffic to get there, and about a 16 minute drive from campus. Tunnel Park has a large grassy area to have picnics and barbecues. Tunnel, like the State Park, is on the north side of Holland. To park within the gates costs a few dollars per car, but to park across the street and walk in is free. 

Here are two of my close friends and I at Tunnel Park

Riley Street 

Riley Street beach is one of the less common choices because it is pretty small and less known. It’s a great option when you want to relax. Parking and entry are free and the drive to get there is beautiful with little to no traffic. The walk up to the beach is through a breathtaking tree branch covered path. Riley Street Beach is a 15 minute drive and also on the north side of Holland.  

Riley Street Beach

Laketown

My personal favorite beach is Laketown, which is about an 18 minute drive from Hope’s campus on the south side. My friends like to call this the “secret beach” because it is hidden on the other side of a massive sand dune. It is fun to climb up this dune and run down the other side into the water. Laketown beach provides a beautiful view of the coastline with beautiful trees and houses on one side and down the other side you can see Big Red at the Holland State Park. Laketown is about the half-way point between Hope College and Saugatuck, so often after a trip to the beach my friends and I will drive the rest of the way downtown to grab lunch or dinner.

The beautiful sunset at Laketown as I make my way back up the sand dune.

Holland is beautiful and provides great ways to take a break and spend time in nature. The beach is just one way to do that! Holland also has beautiful hiking trails, parks and more to enjoy. It is fun to pick out your favorite spots to be with friends and be in awe of God’s creation!