I heard about the Calvin Summer Program in Germany quite literally the first full day I was on campus. During orientation, I sat down with Professor Nielsen to go over my tentative schedule for the next 2 to 3 years. As my eyes began to ever-so-slightly glaze over, for orientation is a long day and this appointment was later in the afternoon, Professor Nielsen made an offhand comment that made me pay very close attention again.
“So, you’ll take Engineering 181 in the fall, Engineering 106 in the spring, and then in the summer you’ll take Engineering 202 in Germany with our summer program.” I sat straight up, replaying the last few moments in my head to make sure I had heard him correctly. Yes, I did hear correctly, and that comment lead to interest meetings to applications to flights back to school in the beginning of July to finally arriving at Calvin on a bright Monday afternoon to begin a class that would complete its course at the TU Berlin.
I hope this class leads to a deepened personal interest in engineering, as there is no better place to study engineering than the actual birthplace of “German-engineered,” as well as a more global sense of the world and community we live in, and the ability to enrich old friendships and create new ones. I believe I contribute an enthusiasm for both the course material as well as the wonders that come from being in a new place.
Finally, it is my hope and prayer that this trip will be safe, enjoyable, and enriching, and that each individual student and professor on this trip can take away the one thing they stand most to gain from going through such an amazing experience.