SarahJean

HOMETOWN: Sioux Falls, S.D.
MAJOR: theatre
CAREER GOAL: to work in a theatre company that uses theatre to raise awareness about important issues
FAV THEATRE PIECE: King Lear

Spending a semester in Hungary hasn’t been easy for SarahJean, but it has been good.

Really good.

Of course she’s had the quintessential Budapest experiences that you shouldn’t miss if you go there—she’s spent hours walking the romantic bridges that stretch across the Danube, journaled in hole-in-the-wall cafes and enjoyed the luxurious Budapest baths more than once.

Still, there’s something else that has made SarahJean’s semester abroad really good.

Studying theatre, Eastern European history and the difficult Hungarian language, SarahJean has been challenged to go beyond herself.

“By leaving familiarity behind, I’ve broadened the struggles which dominated my mind—concerns for my individual future—to focus on the harsh historical past that heavily shapes the future of Eastern European nations.”

She’s traded blissful ignorance for the feeling that she’s more alive and aware of the world than ever before. Now she knows that God is calling her to use her passion, theatre, to raise awareness about suffering in the world.

Thoughout this adventure, SarahJean hasn’t been alone. Her Calvin professor, Michael Page, and her tripmates, have explored Hungary—in all it’s beauty and struggle—together.