Even those on campus who know Yi Xuan Ng (pronounced YEE SHIN UNG), who came to Geneva College from Malaysia, might not recognize this name; he goes by Josh. “My parents named me Josh, but they didn’t put it on my birth certificate or official papers,” Josh laughs.  “I have to go by Josh here or else I’ll make it very hard for people.”

Located in Southeast Asian, Malaysia is a country that is separated into two parts by the South China Sea. Josh grew up about an hour from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur along the western coast of the peninsula.

Malaysia is also predominately an Islamic nation, which led to Josh having an unconventional early education for the area. “I was homeschooled using an American curriculum. We are an Islamic country, so the government sort of kept people who came out of that homeschooling curriculum from coming to local colleges because it is a Christian curriculum. They don’t treat us as real high school students.”

Because of this incompatibility, Josh decided to come to Geneva College in America. He particularly appreciates the liberal arts education that Geneva provides, which contrasts with the technical training offered by Malaysian schools. “They train you for a profession rather than focusing on learning,” he says. “I was looking for a college that focused on liberal arts, Christian and, if possible, reformed. Geneva fits all of those requirements.”

Josh discovered Geneva through a pastor who was ministering in Malaysia. Just as with many American students, he finished his SATs and took to College Board to examine college options: “I was searching and I found Geneva, and I realized this was the college that my pastor was talking about.”

Josh majors in History, and he says, “After learning about the Doctrine of Providence where God guides the history of mankind, I realized that this is God’s script and that made me really excited about the idea of history as God revealing his general revelation.”

After he graduates from Geneva, Josh hopes to return to Malaysia by teaching English as a Second Language.

–Brett Williams ’16