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At ������Ƶ, the moments that shape us aren’t always the ones we expect: a class we took on a whim, a professor who named a strength we hadn’t yet claimed, a late‑night conversation that shifted our faith, the semester we changed majors, or the season we stopped trying to be the “ideal” ������Ƶ student and found our own niche. These quiet turning points—sometimes barely noticeable at the time—have a way of steering our paths.

In a world marked by economic uncertainty, shifting job markets, and rapidly changing public life, these alumni stories remind us how growth rarely arrives all at once. Instead, it begins with a single spark—of curiosity, resilience, discernment, or faith—that helps us walk wisely into the future.

Finding Identity, Building Confidence

“After high school, I was still trying to figure out what my values were,” says recent grad Noro Dung. “������Ƶ was a place where I could merge my vocation with my faith.”

During her first year, she discovered how marketing fit her persuasive strengths and could be paired with her interest in technology. A senior capstone class offered new perspectives on computing and ethics, reinforcing her conviction that stewarding one’s talents matters— especially in a world increasingly shaped by emerging technologies, where powerful tools like artificial intelligence directly affect people and the environment.

“Sometimes we have to choose the harder option to make sure we’re living rightly, practicing our faith in a way that pleases God—even with the little details of our everyday work,” she says.

At ������Ƶ, Dung secured several internships; her favorite led to a full-time job offer at Northgate Resorts, a Grand Rapids-based company that operates camping resorts across the U.S.

Dung, who grew up in Nigeria, had never camped before. “Sleeping outside is just not a thing we do in Nigeria,” she laughs. “At first, I felt, ‘I’m not sure I should be here.’” Access to professors who guided her through challenging projects gave her confidence and freed her to enjoy the experience—especially the travel opportunities.

“Younger Noro was really worried about finding a family, finding a place where she could add value so far away from home,” she reflects. “I would tell her, ‘Don’t stress about it. Focus on your passions, and you will find people who will support you and ways to add value.’”

Reimagining What's Possible

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“I was a frog kid,” Braden DeWeerd says, explaining the origins of his interest in herpetology. “But it wasn’t necessarily what I thought I would end up studying as a graduate student.”

Today, DeWeerd investigates three frog species classified as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) at Eastern New Mexico University. In the field, he tracks species presence, evaluates threats to population stability, and tests alternative species detection methods.

His path to research began at ������Ƶ, where Professor Will Miller recognized his potential before he did. “I was interested in research, but I was on the fence about doing it the summer after freshman year.” When he skipped the application deadline, Miller tracked him down to ask why. Despite applying late, DeWeerd secured a spot on Miller’s tick team, an experience that opened new opportunities and shaped his career interests.

But in 2025, federal cuts to scientific research derailed his acceptance to a fully funded PhD program. “God was working through that disappointment in a big way,” he says. Miller again stepped in, helping DeWeerd secure two technician roles through Michigan State University.

Now the Michigan native is settling into life in the southwest, pursuing a longheld passion. Research, however, is rarely straightforward and never simple. Out in the field, sleeping in tents during the heat of day and searching for frog species that move at night is grueling work. From launch to landing, “It’s been a whirlwind that required a lot of trust.”

The Measure of Success

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As an undergraduate, Abigail Ham’s vision of career success demanded climbing to the top of one’s field.

But when ������Ƶ’s classics major was reduced to a minor, she either had to change majors or transfer. She stayed at ������Ƶ, doublemajored in writing and philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE) and joined Chimes (eventually serving as its editor‑in‑chief).

Ham landed her first job in financial services at a small college in Massachusetts, but when the college closed in September 2024, she found herself job hunting for the second time in a year. That pivot took her to the small city of Keene, New Hampshire, where she now serves as assistant news editor at the Keene Sentinel. In her first months on the job, the New Hampshire Press Association recognized her with a distinguished journalism award for environmental reporting.

Ham’s focus on community is rooted in an ethics class she took with Professor Rebecca De Young. “She taught us that the substance of daily life has ethical value: [to work in local news] you have to believe that the sort of day-to-day stuff of life really matters to God, and it should matter to us—that it’s worth our attention. Over time, that re-shaped my understanding of vocation, too,” says Ham, who now sees success as faithful commitment rather than a particular publication or job title.

To hear Ham talk about her adopted city is to understand exactly what she means. She doesn’t just show up to cover the news; she lives alongside the people whose stories she tells—bumping into them at the coffee shop, attending church with them. Keene is more than her beat; it’s also her home.

Faith, Friendship, Purpose

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For Noah Keene, choosing a college was as much about finding a safe place to navigate doubt as it was about earning a degree. “I was 17, a pastor’s kid experiencing a crisis of faith. I thought, ‘Let me go to ������Ƶ and come back to faith.’ ”

But it wasn’t that simple. Though he says he felt supported as an African American, he also experienced deep loneliness. “By October, I would wake up, go to class, go back to my room, repeat. Though my hobbies are solitary, I realized I’m not actually an introvert. Sometimes, you have to put yourself out there.”

Keene started studying in the library instead of his room, talked to more classmates, and discovered it was easy to meet people on ������Ƶ’s small campus. In time, he found his niche, especially as a member of Cultural Discerners. The group held events across campus focused on pop culture, and the group’s conversations through a Kuyperian lens resonated deeply. “We approached it with the idea of ‘every square inch,’ everything in culture belongs to God.”

After graduating, Keene joined Ameri- Corps’ City Year program, serving for one year in his hometown of Detroit. He now works as an academic interventionist at Clippert Multicultural Honors Academy, helping students below grade level meet their learning targets.

In his spare time, Keene pursues his passion for writing—sharing reflections on the post calvin blog and developing a novel and short stories. His years at ������Ƶ not only renewed his faith; they helped him recognize an important truth: “I realized I had something to offer.”