Having the Time of His Life
Ben Ipema thought college would just be a stepping stone to his future career—but he discovered it could also be fun!
Football, lacrosse, volleyball, UltimateFrisbee. Sound like college to you? It is for Ben, an accounting major at Calvin. While Ben’s time involved serious study, he also had some serious fun. In addition to the sports he enjoyed on campus, Ben spent a three-week Interim in Uganda with Calvin and went on a white water rafting trip down the Nile. “It was about the most fun I’ve ever had.”
Ben enjoyed his classes, too. “Calvin has a much broader range of options than most Christian schools. It’s great, because you might find that you love something you never considered.”
Like many students, Ben wasn’t sure what career he planned to pursue when he first enrolled at Calvin. But after taking a few classes and talking with his professors, he says he discovered a gift for accounting. Since then, Ben has had three accounting internships. “All of my professors are willing to talk about careers or help make connections. I owe all of my internships to Calvin.”
After graduating, Ben accepted a position with an accounting firm outside Chicago. He’s confident that Calvin has prepared him well for this next phase of life and is looking forward to beginning his career. And Ben’s happy that Calvin showed him he can pursue his career goals while still living faithfully. “At Calvin, there’s a huge emphasis on ethics and preparing accountants who do the right thing. We’re encouraged to integrate faith and learning, to challenge both our mind and our faith.”
“My faith has grown a lot at Calvin, and not just because of chapel. It’s also grown because I’ve been surrounded by other Christians. The students and the professors at Calvin are all wonderful and engaging. When you combine that with strong academics, it’s a solid preparation for the world.”