When
prospective students arrive on Hope’s campus for visit days, one of the first
things they ask about are the professors. Students want to know what the
professors are like: are they nice, are they challenging, and are some better
than others? My answer to these students is that the Hope professors are
great individuals who care deeply about their students. In this blog, I thought
I’d take an opportunity to talk more in depth about one of my favorite professors;
one whom I think truly embodies all that it means to be a Hope College
Professor.
What
prospective students don’t always understand about Hope when they first arrive
on campus is that a Hope a professor often fulfills the role of not only being
a professor but also acts as a mentor and friend. One of my favorite professors
is Professor LaBarge who teaches in the Accounting department.
This semester
Professor LaBarge is my financial accounting instructor. One of the biggest
reasons that I love her class so much is because she is always willing to go
above and beyond what the situation calls for in regard to her students. In my
opinion, she does everything she possibly can do to help her students succeed.
For example, before every test period, she provides a review class for her
students where she goes over everything she’s taught that will be on the test.
By doing this, she provides her students with the materials they need to
properly study while also giving them the confidence that they can succeed in
her class.
Another
way that Professor LaBarge goes above and beyond for her students is by
advising them with their classes or career plans. A couple weeks ago, I went
into her office and she helped me understand the qualifications for becoming a
CPA or CMA. She showed me what classes I would want to take and helped me come
up with a plan that would prepare me to either attend graduate school after
college or go into the workforce with accounting experience.
I’m very grateful to have a professor like Professor
LaBarge! Not only is she a wonderful professor, she also is a person that I
admire. Her character traits of humility, consistency, and determination
provide a great example for not only me, but the other Hope students who have
the opportunity to be a part of her class.
Thank you Professor LaBarge!