A Fresh Start
Athan De Jong started his college experience at a state school near home. After two years, he realized it wasn’t quite what he expected. “I felt like a tiny part of a huge machine,” he says. Not only did he find it hard to find true connection, but he also felt like he wasn't growing in his faith and calling.
Dordt University wasn’t unfamiliar to De Jong, as his grandfather taught at Dordt in the 70’s and his dad grew up just down the street from campus. But that’s not the only reason he was drawn to attend Dordt for his final years of college. Between Dordt’s commitment to rigorous Christian education, the ability to seamlessly transfer credits, and access to supportive faculty and staff, De Jong knew he would be set up for success on campus and beyond.
“After I had committed to Dordt, my admissions counselor reached out and asked how he could pray for me,” says De Jong. “It was such a breath of fresh air,” he adds.
Forming Bonds
As a transfer student, De Jong says finding community took some effort. “When you come to a new school, it’s easy to feel intimidated by the vast sea of new faces,” he says. “But I realized I didn’t need to have 20 friends right away and that the friendships would develop over time.” However, De Jong says the Lord provided one friend right away on campus, “and that made such a difference.”
One opportunity De Jong has embraced to find community with people who share his love for stories is through the campus newspaper, the Dordt Diamond. “I've loved writing for the Diamond,” says De Jong. “It's not required for communication students, but it's a great opportunity. It has connected me with campus life, as I interview professors and students I never would have spoken to, ordinarily.”
De Jong has also been involved in the Theatre department, acting in productions like Comedy of Errors and Fiddler on the Roof. “Theatre has helped me find my voice and learn how to use my physical energy and presence,” De Jong reflects. “For Fiddler, I was part of the bottle dancing sequence. While I'm not a natural dancer, the director and choreographer worked together to get me to a point where I could accomplish the goal. I still remember the feeling of catharsis and relief when I finished that show and knew that I had done a good job in my role.”
“When you come to a new school, it’s easy to feel intimidated by the vast sea of new faces,” he says. “But I realized I didn’t need to have 20 friends right away and that the friendships would develop over time.”
Being surrounded by supportive faculty and staff has been a tremendous blessing to De Jong, and it’s something he experienced even before he arrived to campus as a student. “On my campus visit to Dordt, I randomly sat down by Tom Prinsen, professor of public relations,” recalls De Jong. “At the time, I hardly knew anything about public relations, but as he talked about it, I slowly realized that PR was exactly what I wanted to pursue. I could have forgotten about it, but Prinsen reached out on several occasions to touch base. For me, still in a state university where no professor would ever reach out to a student, that told me so much about Dordt.”
During his time on campus, De Jong has found the faculty to be just as impactful. Their expertise, engaging teaching style, and focus on practical skills and experiences have greatly enriched De Jong’s education.
“Professor Pitts, for instance, taught me how to write for newspapers,” says De Jong. “With his help, I have had my writing published in six different publications during one school year,” says De Jong.
It’s also the way faculty deeply care about their students that has made De Jong’s education at Dordt transformational. “I really appreciate my relationship with Professor Pitts,” he says. “We’ll meet regularly to talk about how my current internship is going, and it’s incredibly valuable to have that relationship with someone who has walked through exactly what’s in front of you.”
Defining Faith
One of the reasons De Jong was drawn to Dordt was for its strong commitment to faith. While the Christian perspective is woven into coursework and campus life, he has also found value in being involved in a local church. “I've become a student member at the Sioux Center URC, a loving church in the community, actually within walking distance of campus,” says De Jong. “They've given me spiritual care and mentorship.”
For his faith to flourish, De Jong believes engaging in worship styles outside of his comfort zone is also helpful. “The broad range of worship styles at Dordt have pushed me to think about what God wants from us,” says De Jong. Whether participating in hymn sings or Praise & Worship on Thursday nights, students have options to engage in various aspects of worship, which De Jong says is a great opportunity for growth. “It’s challenged me to think critically about worship through the lens of God’s Word rather than just tradition.”
“College is a great time to bathe in other perspectives without losing the Gospel, and Dordt equips students to do that,” adds De Jong.
While De Jong will spend one more semester on campus, he is confident that making the move to Dordt has given him the necessary experience, support, and knowledge to flourish wherever he is called to serve in the field of communication.
