Dialing Up Connections

Discovering a passion for psychology

While in high school, Julia Stob explored a variety of courses to figure out what career path she might want to pursue. One of her favorites, Introduction to Psychology, sparked her curiosity.

“I enjoyed it so much that I ended up taking all the psychology classes my high school had to offer,” she says. “So, I definitely knew I wanted to major in psychology in college.”

When she arrived at Dordt, she signed up for Introduction to Psychology again.

“I wanted to understand what Dordt classes were like, and coming from public school, I wondered how faith would shape the way my professors approached psychology. That course helped me get my bearings on the program.”

Choosing Dordt wasn’t the easiest option—attending a state university would have been a simpler choice. But for Julia, faith was the deciding factor.

“I wanted faith to be integrated into my education, so I made the intentional choice to come here,” she says.

She was pleasantly surprised by how, at Dordt, faith is woven into daily life.

“It still catches me off guard—in a good way—when professors pray before class or when discussions naturally lead into faith. It’s been amazing to study psychology with a sense of awe at how God made our brains; I don’t think I’d get that same perspective at another school.”

Making music at Dordt

Beyond psychology, Julia is also a musician, playing the flute in Dordt’s campus band.

“I was definitely nervous when I first started; I didn’t know if I’d be good enough for a collegiate level band,” she says.

Receiving a band scholarship boosted her confidence.

“That scholarship helped me feel like I belonged here. It also showed me that Dordt genuinely invests in its students, helping make college more affordable.”

She appreciates that her bandmates share her love of music.

“In high school, some students are there because they have to be. But in college, most everyone is here because they love it or because they’re really good at it.”

For Julia, playing the flute is more than a hobby; it’s a creative outlet.

“Playing the flute is a way to express myself without using words. I love having something outside of academics to work on and improve.”

West Hall living

She had no idea that West Hall existed until she heard that she would be living there. “We didn’t tour it on my campus visit, so when I found out I was going to live there, I was worried,” she recalls. “But now that I’ve lived there for a year, I’m definitely going to try to live in West Hall again next year.”

The perks of West Hall living? “Living with three other roommates is a nice balance, and having an individual bathroom is fantastic. Close proximity to the Classroom Building can’t be beat.”

When it came to her rooming situation, she went potluck – that is, she let Dordt decide who her roommates would be.

“Obviously that gave me some anxiety,” she admits. “But I can tell that, based on the shared interests that my roommates and I have, Dordt put time and effort into hand-picking my roommates, rather than throwing us all in a generator and hoping for the best. In many ways, my roommates have been a huge part of why I love Dordt.”

Cold-calling Defender Nation

If you’ve picked up a call from Dordt recently, there’s a good chance Julia was on the other end. As one of the friendly voices in the Call Center, she spends a couple evenings a week connecting with alumni.

“At first I was scared to call people,” she admits. “But I’ve gained confidence. It helps to remember that there’s a real person on the other end of the line, and as long as you’re nice, hopefully, they’ll be nice too.”

Asking for gifts can feel a little awkward, but she’s grateful that she’s reaching out to people who already have a Dordt connection.

“I’ve had some great conversations with alumni about my major, where I’m from, and their Dordt experiences. It’s fun hearing how campus has changed since they were students.”

Plus, she enjoys getting to know the other students who work in the Call Center. “We laugh a lot, and we commiserate when things don’t go as planned,” she says. “It’s been a good experience.”

The little things matter

Transitioning from high school to college can be overwhelming, but Dordt made it easier for Julia.

“You have to figure things out on your own, but Dordt sets things up to help,” she says.

For example, during Week of Welcome, staff encouraged students to walk around and find their classes before the first day.

“I’m so glad they told us that. Otherwise, I would have wandered around without knowing where I was headed.”

And even in moments of uncertainty, she hasn’t felt alone.

“People are so welcome and helpful, which has made a big difference.”