The Personal Touch
Jessica Becknell is hardly shy and retiring, but she felt overwhelmed by the large high school she attended before coming to Calvin. That’s why Calvin is such a good fit, she says. “Here, everybody knows my name.”
When she’s not in front of the camera for her broadcast communication class, Jessica could just as easily be on the dance floor. She loves performing and chose Calvin for its terrific communications program. “I’m interested in advertising and broadcast media. You need a lot of technology to do that right, and Calvin offers it all. The resources for communication majors are amazing!”
Jessica also takes advantage of Calvin’s Dance Guild, the largest student-run organization on campus. The Guild’s mission is “to glorify God through dance and to promote the serious study of dance as an art form.” Jess’s best moves include tap, hip-hop, and lyrical dance. She’s also a member of Calvin’s Multicultural Student Advisory Board, which promotes racial reconciliation and understanding on campus.
Jess loves the closeness she feels to the Calvin community. “I’m not a number here,” she says, comparing it to her high school. “I know that large lecture halls are not conducive to the way I learn. And Calvin definitely offers the personal touch. Everyone is willing to help whenever I need it.”
“Calvin has also helped me deepen my faith,” she says. “And it does this without pressure. You're not required to go to chapel; you have absolutely nothing forced down your throat. No matter where you are in your walk with God, there’s a place for you at Calvin.”