A Safe Place to Stretch: How Meg Pheifer Found Her Calling at Calvin
Meg Pheifer ’26 is stepping into the world with clarity, courage, and a calling that stretches far beyond herself. After graduation, she’s heading to Bangkok, Thailand, to work with International Justice Mission, an opportunity that reflects not just what she’s learned, but who she’s become.
But Pheifer didn’t arrive at Calvin with that path fully mapped out. In fact, like many students, she came with questions.
Why She Chose Calvin
For much of high school, Meg thought she would pursue a career in medicine. But something shifted during an AP history class.
“I just loved it,” she says. “It was so interesting, I thought, what if I studied this?”
That curiosity led her to consider a different path, one that others sometimes questioned for its practicality. But Pheifer saw something more. She wanted a place that would help her explore big questions about humanity, purpose, and the world.
Calvin stood out.
With its strong liberal arts tradition and Christ-centered approach, she believed it would challenge her to think deeply and help her discover how a passion for history could translate into a meaningful life.
Experiences That Shaped Her
At Calvin, Pheifer's understanding of history quickly expanded.
“It’s so much less about memorizing people and events,” she explains. “It’s about patterns of human existence, the human story.”
That shift became a turning point.
She arrived as a history major with a political science minor already in mind, drawn to how systems and policies shape people’s lives. But one of the most unexpected moments came later, when she discovered something she hadn’t even known existed: an urban studies minor.
Thanks to flexible advising and Calvin’s interdisciplinary approach, she was able to add the minor just before her junior year and complete it in only two years.
That addition proved pivotal.
Through her coursework, Pheifer began connecting history to modern systems, injustice, and public policy in deeper, more tangible ways. She learned not just to study the past, but to apply it, asking better questions about the present and imagining better futures.
Her academic journey didn’t just sharpen her thinking; it reshaped how she saw people.
“It’s given me a deeper sense of human dignity and compassion,” she says. “I’ve learned to listen well, to understand others’ stories, and to share them.”
How She Grew Personally
Faith played a central role in Pheifer's experience but not in the way some might expect.
“At Calvin, faith is rich, but not forced,” she explains. “Professors create space for real dialogue. You’re encouraged to think deeply, to wrestle, to grow.”
That openness helped Pheifer expand her understanding of Christianity. Through chapel, campus ministries, and especially her involvement in the gospel choir, she encountered expressions of faith that stretched her perspective.
“My horizons have been radically expanded,” she says. “I’ve learned what it means to be part of a global Church.”
One of the most meaningful aspects of her time at Calvin was discovering that faith and learning aren’t separate, they inform each other. And that integration helped her begin asking a deeper question:
What is God calling me to?
Experiential Learning
Pheifer didn’t just learn in the classroom, she lived her education.
Through three May-term and semester abroad experiences, she studied in France, the United Kingdom, and Kenya. Each trip added a new layer to her understanding of the world.
“I’ve left pieces of my heart in different places,” she says. “It’s taught me that home can be many places.”
These experiences pushed her toward cultural humility, helping her recognize her own assumptions while embracing the beauty and complexity of other cultures.
Back on campus, Pheifer immersed herself in student life. She served as an orientation leader for three years, participated in gospel choir, and leaned into leadership opportunities across campus.
“It can be overwhelming,” she admits. “But it’s worth it. Calvin isn’t just about academics, it’s about becoming a whole person.”
That’s where another turning point emerged: realizing college isn’t meant to be transactional.
“It’s not just about getting a degree and a job,” she says. “It’s about formation, who you’re becoming.”
Where She Is Now
Today, Pheifer stands ready to take on a global role working in Thailand with a nonprofit focused on justice.
It’s a bold step. One that requires courage, adaptability, and a willingness to step into the unknown.
But she feels prepared.
“Calvin gave me the confidence to try new things,” she says. “I’ve been stretched here. I know I can go out into the world and not just endure but thrive.”
What Made Calvin Unique
When Pheifer reflects on her experience, one phrase comes to mind:
A safe place to stretch.
Calvin offered her both support and challenge, a community that cared deeply while pushing her to grow.
“You can do Calvin safely,” she says. “Or you can do it adventurously. And the adventurous way is always better.”
Her advice to prospective students?
“Get involved. Build relationships. Try new things. If all you do is go to class and go home, you’re missing it.”
