"Imagine if….” Brent was animated, his arms were waiving and smile exploding as he described his idea to the rest of the group.
Kim sat in my office sharing about her semester - her struggles with mental health, her declining schoolwork, and the shame she felt. Underneath the shame, she wanted to imagine that life could be different, that she could be loved in spite of sub-par schoolwork, a deteriorating friendship, and a reserved personality.
“Imagine with me for a moment…”, I said to a group of first year students. “Imagine if…the next four years of college were the years that shaped you into the person you would become. Who would you want to become? What if you were able to develop the best friendships you had yet? Imagine if…you didn’t just go through the motions of schoolwork, but had a sense of meaning and purpose for why you were studying and the way you could contribute to the world through your field of study. And, what if each day you moved toward that purpose and who you want to become in some small way?
Imagine. Imagine. Imagine. We are built to imagine. We are all imagining toward something; yet the question is, “In what direction are we imagining”? Turn on the news and we can easily imagine the bad things that are going to happen to us, the fear, loneliness, destruction, and despair. The direction of our imagination is often where we spend our energy. It can be in worrying, protecting, hiding, or it can be in creating, loving, and living in the security of God’s love and care.
Imagine if…our local communities, our faith communities, and our family communities were places where we laughed a lot. Where the masks of “I’m fine” and “everything is good” could fall off. Where people were seen and known. Imagine if our interactions with the others consistently pointed us toward encountering the God who is ridiculously passionate about us and the whole world, and who has invited us to participate in His redemptive plan.
At Geneva, we are in the midst of hiring next year’s student leaders, a group of students who are already imagining ways they want to impact campus, and how they will put that imagination into action. Staff walk closely beside student leaders to help them develop skills, discover gifting, and work in teams that impact campus. Students gain critical skills they use now and will need in their future workplaces. Student leadership experience is a strong resume builder and a valuable way to grow.
Here’s a few of the leadership positions students can apply for:
I’m honored to joining next year’s group of passionate imaginative student leaders, and I’m praying they know our creative, imaginative God more deeply as they live in service of Christ and neighbor.
-Becky Case, Director of the Center for Student Engagement
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
Feb 28, 2023
Whether you have already experienced the journey of having a child graduate from college or this is the first time, it is important to remember that just like every child is different, every post-graduation path will also look different.
Regardless of where your student finds themselves in their academic journey, you might observe your student shifting towards independence, especially this time of year, and becoming less reliant on you.
One thing we value highly at Geneva College is getting students engaged outside of the classroom. It is a well agreed fact in Higher Education that typically, the more a student is invested in their college community, the better they perform in classes.
One of the most intimidating aspects of nearing graduation is understanding where to start in determining options and knowing what all the options are. One of the more often overlooked opportunities is a faith-based program called The Fellows Initiative (TFI).
You may not be taking exams or finishing up final papers and projects, but you can choose to have an active role in supporting your student through intense exam periods.
Homesickness is a common struggle for students and can typically last anywhere from 3 weeks to over a year. There are a few supportive steps parents, guardians, and caretakers can engage in when their student is missing home.
Jubilee is a 3-day conference (February 16-18, 2024) for students who want their college experience to mean more. Jesus Christ changes everything, discover how at Jubilee!
Talking to your student about grades and academic success can be challenging! Read some tips from our Director of Student Success about these conversations.
Hear from our Director of Calling & Career about Geneva College's unique relation-building approach to student development and how that impacts our students.
Often parents hear about the challenges and negatives of their student's experience, but getting the full picture can be difficult. Our Director of Residence Life offers some helpful tips to engage in meaningful conversation.
Learn more about Geneva College.
Have questions? Call us at 724-847-6505.
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