Bifocals

Monday, October 23, 2006

By Jim Van Wingerden

This past weekend was a very busy time at Calvin College.  In addition to this being Family Weekend, Calvin’s Parent Council, our 30+ member parent advisory board, conducted its October meetings on campus, providing for a busy week and weekend in the parent relations office.

The Parent Council gathered for their first meeting on Thursday night.  There was a time for the parent-members to introduce themselves.  The parents shared how their students came to choose Calvin and many reflected on what they have come to appreciate about their sons’ and daughters’ experiences at Calvin.

I wished I had recorded all the wonderful stories I heard at this session.  We listened to story after story of the many ways that these students and their families have been positively affected by their experiences at Calvin College.

About two-thirds of the way through the session one of the parents commented, “You know, I’ve heard a lot of stories tonight but they all share one thing in common.  They are all evidence of God’s faithfulness.” This parent went on to talk about the life-changing imprint that Calvin College has made on her children, on her and her husband, and also the two generations of her family that preceded her Calvin experience. 

I love to think and talk about the Calvin experience in that way—as strong evidence of God’s faithfulness!  Evidenced in the way that God demonstrates his faithfulness to your sons and daughters through their experiences here and in their life beyond Calvin, but also evidenced in the thousands of ways that Calvin students help show God’s faithfulness to the world through their lives of Christian vocation.

This past weekend was also the setting for two days of meetings of the Calvin Alumni Association board, a variety of concerts and shows, a lecture by Philip Yancey, and class reunions for those who graduated from Calvin in 1976 and 1981.

I’m thankful to say that I graduated from Calvin College in 1976 and attended my 30th reunion this past weekend.  It was good to reconnect with classmates I hadn’t seen in many years and to enjoy the opportunities that a college reunion provides.

The Master of Ceremonies* of the reunion program began the evening by looking out over a decidedly graying crowd of 50-something-baby-boomers and remarking, “I don’t recall so many of us wearing bifocals 30 years ago.” After the ensuing laughter he went on to observe, “You know, bifocals really aren’t so bad.  They can serve as a reminder of God’s faithfulness, helping us to not only look backwards, as we do at a reunion, but also to look forward, as we share how God has been at work through our lives these past 30 years.”

I like those thoughts and that image—the dual purpose of bifocals.  As evidence of God’s faithfulness.  I pray that we as parents gain the dual vision that bifocals can afford—the ability to see two images of our students.  The ability to see them up close, as they are today with all of today’s joys and challenges, but also the vision to see them through the lense of God’s faithfulness, becoming the Christian women and men that God intends them to be.

* (I want to share that our reunion MC, Dr. Bob Keeley, did triple-duty that evening, serving as not only our reunion MC but also as member of BOTH bands that provided entertainment that evening—The Lazy Blue Tunas and the 30th reunion of Blue Sky, a popular Calvin band from the 70s.  Bob Keeley’s “day job” is teaching your daughters and sons as the chair of Calvin’s Education Department).

(0) Comments • Parenting • Personal • Permalink

October snow

Thursday, October 12, 2006

By Jim Van Wingerden

A mom called today and asked if the snowy view she saw on the Calvin Webcam was a joke.  It’s not.  It’s snowing in Grand Rapids today.  An unusually early snow. 

I’ve been feeling a bit negligent and have been wanting to find some time to write something for the FMW blog this week.  It’s been a busy few weeks with preparations for Family Weekend and the October meeting of the Parent Council next weekend.  Now as I look at the view from my window it occurs to me that this image will have to suffice as my contribution this week.  A picture is worth a thousand words.

We’re praying for warmer weather next weekend for Family Weekend.  Rest assured that we’ll have a great weekend for Calvin parents and families regardless of the weather.

There’s a saying here in Michigan.  “If you don’t like the weather just wait around for 5 minutes--it’s likely to change.”

Hard to believe that I mowed my lawn three days ago.  There’s at least one benefit of an early snow:

My lawn and my yard look just as good as my neighbor’s today.  And with very little effort on my part.

Hope to see you soon at Family Weekend!

(0) Comments • Personal • Student Life • Permalink

Worry

Friday, September 29, 2006

By Jim Van Wingerden

Well it’s Friday again—only three weeks away from Family Weekend!  Students are completing their fourth week of classes. Most have taken this semester’s first test and/or had a writing assignment come due. 

Parents I have talked to or run into these past four weeks seem generally content about their student’s college experience thus far.  In spite of that I know that many parents are secretly busy with one of the prime activities of parenting a college student.

They worry.

Parents are all over the board when it comes to topics they choose to worry about.  The September 2006 “Question of the Month” touched on those issues: “As you think about the upcoming academic year, what concerns you most regarding your student’s Calvin experience?” Based on input from 168 parents here are how those responses broke down:

* Time Management: 19.0%
* Academics: 15.5%
* Personal Relationships: 14.3%
* Spiritual Wellness: 13.7%
* Career Planning: 11.9%
* Finances: 10.1%
* Health: 2.4%
* Involvement opportunities outside classroom: 2.4%
* Safety: 0.6%
* Other: 10.1%

It’s interesting to me that even though time management tops that list, there are five other very healthy contenders for the #1 position—each worthy of a parent’s prayers and concern.

Let me share this comforting Bible passage and a short piece that I wrote for a church devotional booklet a few years ago.  It’s an eternal promise that’s been helpful for this dad when those “worry” opportunities pop up.

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(1) Comments • Christian Formation • Parenting • Personal • The First-Year Experience • Permalink

The “two-for-one” rule

Sunday, September 24, 2006

By Jim Van Wingerden

Many bright and talented students attend Calvin College.  I know that this is a gross understatement, but consider that in this new class of first-year students alone more than 60% began their Calvin career being awarded one of the college’s top scholarships (based on high school grades and test scores).  That is an impressive statistic for any college.

In spite of this many first year students, even those who received a scholarship, will experience significant academic adjustments during their first semester.  Many parents report that even though their student received very good grades in high school, Calvin academics require a lot more time and effort to maintain similar grades. 

Because college students are actually in a classroom fewer hours each week than high school students, some arrive at an early (and false) conclusion that there is more “free” time in college.  This is a common mistake. The sooner this misconception is exposed, however, the better. Putting off an assignment for a few days can quickly turn into a week or two. Suddenly it’s the middle of October and there is little time left to turn a ship around that is sailing in the wrong direction.

Parents have asked how to best coach their student as they adjust to this new academic environment.  There are many ways to do this.  Remain positive. Find opportunities to encourage your student. Let them know you believe they can be successful in college. Remind them of good time management strategies.

I also like to mention that students should know and follow the “two-for-one” rule.  Simply stated the rule is this: for every one hour that a student is in class, he/she should be spending at least two hours of work outside of the classroom—reading textbook assignments, participating in study groups, organizing class notes, researching term papers, studying for quizzes or exams, and so on.

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(0) Comments • Academic • The First-Year Experience • Permalink

Blessed at chapel

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

By Jim Van Wingerden

For me one of the great perks of working at Calvin College is the opportunity to attend morning worship or “chapel” at 10 am. Classes are neither scheduled nor held between 10:00-10:30 am. Some college offices even close their doors at 10 am, hoping to encourage students and staff to attend.

Unfortunately I don’t always make it to chapel.  It’s been a personal goal of mine to attend at least once each week.  Last week I made it three times--I also attended this morning.  That’s not always the case.  Often the tempo of a work project propels that 9:55 am “mark” right past me.  Or I just plain forget and don’t even consider the chapel option many mornings.  Occasionally a colleague will stop by or shoot me an e-mailed invitation.  That is usually enough of a prompt. Sometimes I even take the initiative and invite a colleague.

But one thing is always certain when it comes to my chapel attendance.  I always receive a spiritual blessing when I do go.

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(1) Comments • Christian Formation • Worship • Permalink
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