Mr. Jona Eigege

Biography

Major:  International Relations & Business

Year at Calvin: Senior (Graduation Year 2015)

Country or countries you grew up in: Nigeria

Nationality: Nigerian      

High school: Hillcrest School | Jos, Nigeria

What’s the best class you’ve had?

BUSINESS 360 (Organizational Behavior & Management). I took this class the semester after leading a group of 12 other students to plan and implement International Orientation at Calvin. It was a perfect class to take after that experience because there was a lot of learning that happened in hindsight. There were a lot of “now I get it” moments and I could look back and say “Oh, so that’s what was happening…” and because of that, they are lessons I will never forget.

How do you get involved at Calvin?

College is a great place to build on your interests from high school. In high school, I was very involved with student government (Student Council, Class Officers, NHS – that kind of thing.) So I got involved with that here as well, most notably starting an African Students Association at the end of my freshman year. I also get the privilege of being Student Body President this year, which is pretty exciting. If I could change one thing about my involvement here though, I would have taken more chances and explored more of my unknown interests, while building on my experience from high school. 

Have you had any internships? If so, what were they?

During the Spring 2014 semester, I had the opportunity to study off-campus in Washington DC through Calvin. That semester is entirely centered on an internship in your major, so it feels more like work than school to be honest but so much learning happens. I interned at the DC Mayor’s Office on African Affairs right in the middle of election season. It could not have been a better fit.  My job with Calvin New Student  Orientation was also technically considered an on-campus internship.

What advice to you have for students who are thinking about applying to Calvin?

Stop thinking about it. Just come here! I really don’t think you can make a better decision in choosing a college. I’ve found that Calvin values you as an individual and wants to draw you into its thriving community. If you take that chance, everyday, you will become a better representation of yourself that you can be – spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, relationally and otherwise! And to be honest, isn’t that what we’re all looking for?

There are literally are thousands of colleges in the world. Why did you choose Calvin?

I wanted an education that was:

• Academically excellent
• Distinctively Christian
• Reasonably Affordable
• And at an institution that really valued international students historically

By the time I applied those filters, there weren’t many options left.  It also probably helped that my brothers came here.