Calvin News

When Maaike Bult '22 arrived at Calvin University from Pennsylvania, she thought she knew what came next. 

She was studying Politics, Philosophy, Economics (PPE), and Spanish. She was preparing for the LSAT. Law school seemed like the logical next step. After all, she loved ideas, enjoyed debate, and came from a family of educators and lifelong learners. 

Like many students, Bult had a plan. 

What she didn't know was that Calvin would help her discover a calling. 

When You Don't Know What's Next 

For many high school seniors, the biggest question isn't where to go to college. 

It's: What am I supposed to do with my life? 

Bult understands that feeling. 

As graduation from Calvin approached, she found herself applying for jobs, exploring opportunities abroad, and considering law school, all at the same time. 

"I was sad to be leaving and didn't really know what was coming next," she said. "I was applying for a million different jobs." 

Then something unexpected happened. 

One afternoon, while working in Calvin University's Career Center, she said goodbye to colleagues she had worked alongside for three years. Moments later, she opened her laptop and saw an announcement for Calvin's new Master of Arts in Teaching program. 

A conversation. A chance encounter. An opportunity she had never considered. 

"It felt like everything lined up at once," she said. 

For the first time, she could imagine herself in a classroom, not as a student, but as a teacher. 

The Guide You Need 

One of the challenges students face is figuring out who they are becoming. 

At Calvin, Bult found mentors who helped her connect her interests, faith, and future in ways she never expected. 

Professors didn't simply teach content. They modeled what it looked like to love learning and serve others through their work. 

One professor who left a lasting impression was her Spanish professor, Dwight TenHuisen. 

In his classes, learning wasn't passive. Students moved, discussed, practiced, reflected, and engaged deeply with both language and faith. 

Years later, as a teacher herself, Bult still uses many of those same techniques. 

"I found myself looking back at my Calvin professors and asking, 'Who were the people doing these things so well?'" 

Another influential mentor was education professor David Smith, whose teaching challenged her understanding of what Christian education could be. 

He taught future educators that faith isn't simply something added onto a lesson. 

It's reflected in how you treat students, in the opportunities you give them, and in the dignity you extend to every learner. 

"Some of the most biblical things you can do in a classroom don't need a Bible verse attached to them," Bult said. 

That perspective continues to shape the way she teaches today. 

More Than Job Preparation 

Students often hear that college should prepare them for a career. 

Calvin certainly does that. 

But Bult discovered something even more valuable. 

A worldview. 

"The goal isn't just to get a job," she said. "It's understanding why your work matters." 

Through Calvin's Reformed Christian perspective, she learned that every vocation can participate in God's work of restoring and renewing the world. 

For a future teacher, that understanding was transformative. 

Education became more than lesson plans and grading. 

It became a way to help students grow, flourish, and contribute to God's world. 

"The idea that we're helping make the world better before Christ returns, that's incredibly motivating," she said. 

A Place to Explore 

One reason Bult encourages students to consider Calvin is because she didn't arrive knowing exactly what she wanted to do. 

In fact, she changed directions entirely. 

That's one of the strengths of a Calvin education. 

Students don't have to have everything figured out on day one. 

The liberal arts experience allows them to explore multiple disciplines, ask big questions, and discover new passions. 

"I've become a huge proponent of the liberal arts," Bult said. "You get to experience so many different subjects and hear from experts who care deeply about their field." 

For Bult, that meant studying politics, economics, philosophy, and Spanish. It meant interning with Legal Aid of Western Michigan. It meant studying abroad in Spain. It meant working in the Career Center and taking on a variety of campus jobs. 

Each experience helped shape who she would become. 

And when a new opportunity appeared, she was ready for it. 

Why Calvin Felt Different 

Despite coming from a family with deep Calvin connections, Bult wasn't automatically sold on attending. 

In fact, she was skeptical. 

Growing up in Pennsylvania, many of her classmates were aiming for prestigious brand-name universities. 

But after visiting Calvin, something stood out. 

"It felt down to earth," she said. 

That feeling mattered. 

She appreciated the welcoming community, the absence of social pressures common at many campuses, and the ability to build meaningful relationships with professors and classmates. 

Most of all, she appreciated the people. 

At Calvin, students aren't lost in a crowd. 

They're known. 

The university's small class sizes and commitment to teaching create opportunities for mentorship and connection that continue long after graduation. 

"You have experts all around you who care about you," Bult said. "They're investing in you as a person." 

Ready for What's Next 

Today, Bult teaches high school social studies, public speaking, sociology, government, economics, and leadership courses. 

She stands in front of classrooms helping students discover their own futures, much like the professors and mentors who helped shape hers. 

Looking back, she sees Calvin as the place that gave her both the confidence and the foundation to launch her career. 

"You have opportunities to engage with adults who care about you and challenge you," she said. "That gives you confidence." 

For prospective students wondering if Calvin is worth it, her answer is simple. 

"Absolutely." 

Because Calvin isn't just a place where you prepare for a career. 

It's a place where you discover your calling. 

And sometimes, as Bult learned, the path you're meant to follow is one you never saw coming.