Hope Psychology
Tracing the history of the department
Tracing the history of the department
Talk given to Hope College Trustee Luncheon -- May 7, 1993
Life is full of surprises. We all have certain expectations or moments of wishful thinking, but I can assure you that I never expected to be the recipient of an alumni award. I am very pleased and grateful for this special honor.
One of the reasons why I never expected to be the recipient is because of my earlier, student feelings about Hope. As you may know by now, I neither came to Hope because of its religious dimension, nor its affiliation with the RCA, nor someone convincing me of its excellent reputation. My decision to enter Hope was strictly based on convenience and urgency. It was late in August and at the last minute, for reasons that take too long to explain, I had given up on Chicago and Michigan State. But I wanted to get started somewhere, and fast. I didn’t know what to do, however. One of the people I talked to about my dilemma was an uncle who lived here in Holland. After hearing me out he said: “How about Hope College?” I said: “Sounds good. Where is it?”
You should also know that I was at Hope for only two years during my junior and senior years. I also was a veteran, lived off campus, got married and was frustrated by so many required courses. The whole concept of taking unrelated courses when I knew what I wanted was quite alien to my European experience with higher education. But somehow the College justified it under the magical and to me mystical label of liberal arts.
Well, when I graduated and left for advanced training in Claremont, California, there was not one single thought, not even a fleeting one, of ever returning to Hope and its obsession with liberal arts, stuffy Holland and its phony claim of being Dutch, and cold and snowy Michigan.
So, what happened? Did the California sun get to me? Actually, being in California had something to do with my change of heart. Being in graduate school I met students who had done their undergraduate work at colleges and universities in other states. In talking with them I began to finally understand liberal arts. I also learned that not all undergraduate education was equal. My visits to other institutions and discussions with my professors also helped in my understanding of American higher education. I also had some helpful conversations with Lars Granberg who had introduced me to psychology while at Hope and now was dean at Fuller Seminary, a 30-minute drive from Claremont. As all of this was taking place, I began to think differently about little Hope College in the boonies of Michigan. I still remember being so surprised that people in California, especially respected educators, had heard of Hope and…. spoke well of it. As I did some more reflecting upon my two years at Hope, more and more pieces fell in place. I put my Hope professors in a different light and even began to feel nostalgic about the times I listened to the chapel choir during required, daily, early-morning worship.
Therefore, it didn’t take me long to make the decision to return to Hope when Bill Vander Lugt asked me to do so. To give you an idea of how much I had changed my thinking by that time, by coming to Hope I turned down two offers for substantially more money from supposedly more reputable institutions.
The fact that I have stayed for 34 years should tell you that I have never been disappointed in my revised appraisal of what Hope College stands for and what we do here. It may also interest you to know that all my four children went through Hope in spite of my suggestions to go elsewhere. Why did I suggest that they go elsewhere? Aren’t I contradicting what I just said? Well, that was the parent in me wanting his children to become more self-reliant. I was concerned that, having lived in Holland almost their entire lives and having me so close, I would deny them the opportunity to become their own persons. But what I didn’t realize was that my children knew best. They defied me, as they still do at times, and very independently and purposely chose Hope. I am happy to report that they still feel very good about their Hope experiences. Three of them even married Hope graduates.
Although at present I much better understand, appreciate and advocate liberal arts and the Christian dimension of our alma mater, I am still not totally sure what makes Hope special. As I think about it, however, I keep coming back to the people of Hope: its faculty, administration, trustees, support personnel, and students. There is something very unique about all of us as a group. Of course, there is the important Christian faith dimension. But, in addition, there are some other wonderful characteristics that often set the tone and style of how we interact and work together. I believe that, more than at other institutions, we have a strong sense of community. This sense of community even includes the city of Holland. I also think that we, as a Hope family, enjoy so much more respect for each other and the things we learn than at many other institutions.
And, finally, but certainly not less importantly, all of us are the beneficiaries of a great deal of trust. One does not have to be a psychologist to understand the importance of that characteristic. Only with trust is there healthy give-and-take and opportunity for nurturing and growth.
There may be some other good things I and others can say about this college, but let me close by saying that, given our human perfections and imperfections, learning and teaching at Hope is as good an experience as one can get. I am confident that over time it will only get better.
Thank you.