The past year I have been blessed to attend what I consider to be the greatest school imaginable: Calvin College. I'm sure many of you feel the same way. Calvin College is my home away from home. Even though it's summer, I'm going to miss this place, and, in particular, the following things:
1. The copious amount of squirrels.
Believe it or not, these squirrels have stolen much more than jell-o pieces from the jell-o rock. They’ve also stolen the hearts of the great majority of Calvin campus. Three months without seeing these cute little guys chasing each other up and down the trees is too long in my book.
2. Ron the Sandwich Man.
Maybe it’s the pesto or maybe it’s Ron’s magical abilities, but there is something in the Knollcrest’s sandwiches that make them irresistible. It’s no wonder the sandwich line is constantly miles long as Calvin’s campus flocks to order the sandwich of their choice.
3. Pastor Mary and LOFT.
Campus celebrity, Pastor Mary, not only gives the best sermons, but also the best hugs. Despite being a campus of 4000 students, Pastor Mary still manages to touch the lives of every student at Calvin. Her wise words of discernment and comfort equip students with the knowledge of what it means to be a Christian in the modern world. No doubt we’ll all miss our weekly LOFT hug from our collective Michigan mom: Pastor Mary.
4. Sunday Sundae.
Okay so maybe Commons on Sunday isn’t the best, but nothing can beat the wonderful creation that is Sunday Sundaes. With whipped cream, hot fudge, and Hudsonville ice cream, Calvin College truly knows how to bless it’s students.
5. Night Life Events.
No matter how anti-establishment you are, there’s not a soul at Calvin who can say they’ve never enjoyed at least one Night Life event. Calvin College truly knows how to offer events for all types of people. From Rangeela to Improv, there’s bound to be at least ten different things happening on campus every weekend. Best thing about it too? Most on-campus activities are under $5 to attend.
6. Having your BFF’s living literally next door.
The greatest thing about floor bonding is being able to walk literally two feet to see your best friend. Being the lazy friend maker that I am, there’s nothing better than hanging out in my lobby and being goofy with my floor-mates
7. Professors that actually care.
Since the student to faculty ratio is 13:1, most professors are able to know the name of each of their students by the end of the semester. Professors are generally very understanding of extenuating circumstances and willing to give extensions when necessary. The professors at Calvin truly carry the love of Christ with them in and out of the classroom.
8. Being around environmentally conscious people.
The students at Calvin College sincerely care about the environment. Kilowatt in interim is Calvin’s time to shine. Seeing people around campus recycling, using their CUPPs mugs, and going vegetarian is just a few of the many ways Calvin students care for the environment.
9. Your Roommate.
Even if you weren’t BFF’s with your roommate, it was still nice to know there was always someone there to rant to about your grades, friends, or professors. Roommates provide an instant friend to cling to, especially at the beginning of the year when you’re all alone in a scary new place. And, if you’re lucky, that friendship will continue far past the first month to the rest of your life.
10. Calvin’s beautiful campus.
Pink flower petals line Calvin’s grounds in the spring. In the winter, snow frosts the soil like vanilla frosting. Fall highlights the reds, oranges, and yellows that tint the leaves on Calvin’s trees. All seasons at Calvin are uniquely beautiful, and wherever you are this summer, you secretly can’t wait to go back to Calvin to revel in God’s nature once again.
See you next year Calvin!
