She Didn’t Plan to Choose Calvin. But It Became Exactly Where She Was Meant to Be.
When Pauline Lu began her college search in New Jersey, Calvin University was near the bottom of her list.
“I grew up in a small Christian school,” she says. “I didn’t want to go to another one again.”
But throughout her senior year, Lu kept praying about where she should go to college. And slowly, unexpectedly, Calvin kept coming back into the picture.
“When I finally visited, I remember thinking, I hate that I liked it here.”
Today, Lu is a junior studying computer science plus entrepreneurship and a minor in philosophy, a combination that reflects one of the things she now loves most about Calvin: how you are empowered to "do it all."
“At Calvin, my classes are truly multifaceted,” she explains. “I can study artificial intelligence in computer science and then talk about the ethics behind it in philosophy. That interdisciplinary approach is really unique.”
Finding Direction — Even When It’s Hard
Like many students, Lu didn’t arrive with everything figured out.
In fact, during her first year she nearly left her major.
“Computer science was incredibly challenging,” she says. “I looked around and thought everyone else already knew what they were doing.”
Instead of walking away, she found mentors and a community that encouraged her to stay. That encouragement led Lu to help restart Calvin’s Girls Who Code chapter, building mentorship opportunities for women in technology and partnering with local schools to inspire the next generation.
“That’s something Calvin does really well,” Lu says. “People come alongside you and help you see what you’re capable of.”
A Place That Helps You Grow Into Leadership
Lu didn’t just find academic support, she found opportunities to lead.
She joined student government as a freshman, later serving as a senator and now working in student senate leadership. She’s also been active in honors courses, service trips, and campus organizations.
One of the most meaningful experiences happened off campus during a service-learning trip to North Carolina, where students helped families rebuild after hurricane damage.
“We went there to serve,” she says. “But honestly, it felt like they were serving us. Their generosity and faith were incredible.”
Experiences like that helped Lu see what a Calvin education is really about: preparing students to make a difference in the world.
Technology, Faith, and the Future
Lu is especially excited about studying artificial intelligence during a time when the technology is rapidly evolving.
But what makes Calvin different, she says, is how those conversations happen here.
“At bigger tech schools, AI is about innovation and speed,” she explains. “At Calvin, we’re also asking the moral and ethical questions. How should we use these tools? How can technology serve people?”
That perspective has helped shape Lu's future goals, using technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership to create solutions that benefit communities.
What She Tells Students Who Are Nervous About College
As a campus tour guide, Lu often meets students who are worried about choosing the right school or afraid they might fail.
Her advice is simple.
“You’re going to fail at some point,” she says. “Everyone does. But Calvin is a safe place to fail, where you will be supported through each lesson you learn.”
She says what truly stands out about Calvin is something students often discover once they visit campus.
“The community here is real,” Lu says. “It’s a smaller university, but you meet people from all over the world, from different backgrounds and experiences. And everyone is passionate about something.”
That energy, she says, changes people.
“You start to grow because the people around you are growing too.”
Discovering What You’re Meant to Become
Looking back, Lu smiles at how hesitant she once was about Calvin.
Now she sees it differently.
“This is a place that challenges you to think deeply, act justly, and live wholeheartedly,” she says. “And it helps you figure out how to use your gifts to make an impact.”
For students still wondering where they belong, Lu offers this reassurance:
“It’s okay if you don’t have everything figured out yet. Calvin is a place where you can discover it.”