Calvin News

Thinking deeply. 
 
These two words found near the front of Calvin’s mission statement allured Eleanor Plutz ’28, a homeschool student from Wyoming, Michigan, to strongly consider Calvin University. 
 
“I wanted to go to a Christian school, but one that would allow me to think deeply and explore aspects of my faith and not be spoon-fed,” said Plutz. “When I was praying about what school to go to, I noticed that Calvin felt more like home and the emphasis they placed on thinking deeply really appealed to me.”

Pivoting toward another passion

So Plutz came to Calvin, and she soon realized just how good a decision that turned out to be. 
 
“I was a nursing major, but I was having way more fun in my religion classes,” said Plutz. “So, I felt like that was what I should pursue since it excited me more than the science classes.” 
 
Plutz was on a journey of discovery—one that saw her changing her major from nursing to a triple major in therapeutic recreation, social work, and religion as she discerned a calling to ministry. 
 
“Changing my major wasn’t an easy decision because I work at a hospital now as a nurse tech, and I really enjoy the healthcare environment,” said Plutz.

Not settling for “or”

But Plutz soon found she didn’t have to abandon one passion for another. At Calvin, she was encouraged to discover ways to pursue both. 
 
“If I wasn’t at a liberal arts school, I don’t know if I would have registered if I was called to ministry. I would’ve just gone into nursing. So, that’s a big thing. The liberal arts helped me to find what I’m passionate about and what fits best for me,” said Plutz. “I’m hoping to do something that combines ministry with healthcare. Right now, my goal is to be a hospital chaplain.

Prepared for more than a job

Plutz is also seeing her preparation at Calvin as equipping her not only for a career, but more importantly a calling that reaches into all areas of her life, including her involvement in a local church.  
 
“I’m interested in providing spiritual and emotional care through expressive arts like dance, writing, drawing, and trying to combine all of those disciplines—some sort of ministry therapy,” said Plutz, who is also a member of the ministry leadership cohort at Calvin. “I’m also interested in Deaf ministry, since I’m hard of hearing myself, and making church more accessible for neurodivergent people, like thinking about ways to offer creative worship opportunities for people with autism or ADHD who may struggle with just sitting and watching a sermon.”

Putting the lens of faith on everything

While the liberal arts core at Calvin has helped expand Plutz’s imagination for her future, she sees how beneficial it’s been to have faith integrated into all areas of her college experience.  
 
“I see faith integrated into all of my classes, even my stats class that I took freshmen year somehow found a way to put faith into statistics,” said Plutz. “The professors all do a good job of integrating it. While it’s noticeable in the ministry leadership and religion classes, I’m also being encouraged to think about social work and rec therapy through a Christian perspective. 
 
“In the ministry leadership cohort, we talk about a wide range of topics. I’ve really enjoyed those conversations and getting close to people in my cohort that I wouldn’t have known otherwise,” said Plutz. “At Calvin, you get to expand your worldview and meet a diverse group of students, including students from around the world and from various school environments and you learn a lot through that experience.”