Photo Challenge Day 29

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile

Well who could possibly narrow that down to one?!? Certainly not me. These are some classic snaps from my childhood that always, always make me crack up :-)

MINE! lol :-)

Oh, little Jeffrey

the expressions say it all :-)

always a ham



happy campers at Grandma's...kinda...

thumbs up!

Jeff & the Wrestling Buddies! (which we STILL have!)

he wore those cowboy boots with everything (and everywhere)

brotherly love! :-)

such classic facial expressions! :-)

it wouldn't be a proper party if this didn't happen

classic

yeah, that's how we roll in Orlando!

Great Grandma Skinner & Gram Leffew keeping us in line with the Super Soakers! :-)

Photo Challenge Day 28

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of

Now, I've never been swimming in an ocean (gasp! I know...) but I'm not sure I want to.... I'll admit it, I have an overactive (and somewhat pessimistic) imagination sometimes but what if there are huge killer sharks and octopi just waiting to eat me?!? And even if they're not as huge or as monstrous as those depicted, what if some creepy crawly thing gets me?!? Who KNOWS what's all down there--it makes me nervous just thinking about it. Now don't get me wrong, I'm sure the aquatic life are all fascinating and beautiful in their own special ways but I'm terrified at the thought of swimming with them!

Photo Challenge Day 27

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member

This my cousin, Darlene, and me at her brother's wedding reception at the Adler Planetarium a few years ago (SUCH a cool venue!!). She's pretty much amazing and I've always looked up to her. And whenever we get a chance to hang out, it's always a great time full of superfun games, side-splitting laughter, and great conversation. Sadly, I don't get to see her much these days cause she's a smarty pants doctor out at the Mayo Clinic in MN but when we do get the chance to spend time together it makes myheart oh so happy. :-)

Cheaters (Should) Never Prosper

So, there's this fella in my Biology class who other students have noticed cheating on our previous two exams by pulling out his cell phone (to look up answers on the web & also to look at pictures he took of his notes). When we're finished taking our exam we're supposed to wait out in the hallway and that's when my classmates have talked about it. Most of them were upset by it but didn't want to turn him in and others said they didn't care. This student would typically be the last to finish the test and came out into the hallway smirking when some students would make comments about him be slick and getting away with it. He would smile bigger and say that he only used his phone for a few questions.

Whether it was a few questions or the whole test, it doesn't matter; cheating is cheating. Since I didn't personally see him do it I went back and forth about approaching our teacher. I decided not to say anything till I actually saw him do it.
Tonight we had our third exam. Before we started, our instructor told us he didn't want to see any cell phones out at all and seeing one would be construed as attempting to cheat and a zero would be given. You would think that such a specific and stern warning would be enough. Not so.

The student in question sat right in front and to the left of me so I had a perfect line of vision. Sure enough, I saw him pull out his phone a number of times. I decided to finish my exam and write a note to the teacher on the back of my response sheet. I gathered my things, handed in my test, and pointed to my note so he was sure to read it right away.
A few minutes later, as I was sitting in the hallway, I saw the student in question walking out of the classroom down the hallway. He had pulled out his phone again and was caught! Now, don't get me wrong, I didn't feel good about it; in fact, my stomach was in knots. However, I know that I did the right thing. Cheating, in any form, is morally reprehensible, and it is disrespectful to both the teacher and one's classmates. End of story.

Most of my friends agree with me and affirmed my decision to turn this student in, citing it as the right thing to do. To my surprise, though, another friend said she disagreed with turning students in, that it is bad karma. First of all, I don't believe in karma. Second of all, people need to learn right from wrong and understand that there are consequences for breaking rules and ethics. And frankly, it's sad to me that I'm the only one in my class who said something. When cheating and academic dishonesty enter the picture it compromises the educational process for everyone. And I felt that by the extent to which I was keeping quiet, I was participating in and contributing to this compromised situation that affects everyone. Some people might say it's just a test, but what really worries me is the way this ethic tends to get carried into other situations and facets of life. When people of good conscience see something wrong happen and do nothing to stop it, I feel that they're just as culpable. What has happened to integrity, principle, and character?!? People are their principles!!!

"We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people."  ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

I'll step off of my soap box, for now....

What are your thoughts, friends???

Photo Challenge Day 26

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you

Last school year I was able to get my own apartment off campus. It was the first time I had ever lived by myself and I LOVED it! The 9 months I spent in that apartment were really special to me--while I wasn't financially independent, having my own place gave me much of the independent lifestyle I was craving. I got to decorate how I wanted, buy whatever groceries I wanted, eat what I wanted when I wanted, go to bed whenever I wanted without hearing anyone nag that I was staying up too late, be as loud as I wanted when I wanted, have friends over when I wanted, and only had to worry about cleaning up after myself--things that aren't usually afforded when living with other people. So what this little apartment on Woodlawn represents for me is the sweetness of independent living that I so look forward to returning to one day. :-)

Photo Challenge Day 25

Day 25 - A picture of your day

Holy crap! There's a car in my next door neighbor's yard!!!

Rewind.... so....I was upstairs cleaning my room and all of the sudden I hear this loud POP and a big BOOM so I look out the window to see my car move forward and down. As I was running downstairs and outside I was thinking, "why is someone moving my car?" and "what the heck is making that terrible noise?" My eyes went straight to my car.

NNNNOOOOOO!!!!

This is the second time my car has been hit (while parked!!!) in the last two years--Dad and my brother Jeff say that my car is cursed--maybe so...

But within a few seconds my eyes were drawn to the commotion a few hundred feet to my right...

Some elderly gentleman not only smashed into my car (back AND front!) but he managed to jump a steep curb and wound up crashing into the front stone steps of my next door neighbor's house!!! My mom and I ran over and stood awestruck for a second and then she shouted "Call 9-11!" [I'll admit it, as I was dialing, the movie The Little Rascals popped into my head as I said to myself, "Quick! What's the number for 9-1-1?"] LOL
But I quickly snapped back to reality and nervously spoke with the emergency operator (my 1st time calling 9-11). After hanging up I rushed over to see if the driver was ok and talk with our neighbors to make sure they, too, were ok. Thank God, no one was hurt--not even the driver. And within a few short minutes 6 squad cars, an ambulance, a fire truck, and a fire dept. SUV came down the block from both directions and neighbors from several surrounding blocks came out to see what the commotion was all about.

It was such a scary freak accident and despite the damage done to my car and the very minor damage done to the neighbor's lawn & front steps, I count us all very lucky that no one was harmed. It was a beautiful (and outrageously unusual) 70ish degree day out and people could have been out infront playing. In this situation I'll say thank goodness everyone was inside (or at least in the backyard)!

One never knows what an afternoon will hold...

Lessons of the day: drive safely and within the speed limit--especially on residential streets!, never drink & drive, and cherish life always--one never knows when disaster will strike and possibly take a life.

Photo Challenge Day 24

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change

This is super random, but I wish that I could change my level of awareness regarding the facial expressions I display... SO often I'm told that I make really funny or dramatic expressions and I'm totally oblivious. I don't know that it's a skill I can hone or anything like that but if I could, I would change the conscious control (or at least awareness of) I have over the facial expressions I make.

Photo Challenge Day 23

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book

Being a literature student, it's hard to pick a single favorite book. So here's one of my favorite [fiction] books: Bless Me Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya. :-)

I read it for the first time in 2009 for an interim course I took on the art & literature of the Southwest in Taos, NM. Not only is it a great story but it's so beautifully written--just as the protagonist Antonio (Tony) talks about how there is "magic in the letters," Anaya exemplifies this in the way he's able to craft words. There's a great quote in the introduction that gets at the heart of the novel (and part of the premise of the course): "Her (Ultima) role is to open Antonio's eyes so he can see the beauty of the landscape and understand the spiritual roots of his culture. With her guidance he begins to understand that the river, the open plain, and all of nature is imbued with spirit. Everything is alive; God is everywhere."

This is what I wrote about the book for my last journal entry (for the course):

The last chapters of the book were amazing! The book just got better and better as it went along. :) Tony's had to make a lot of choices--Cico tells him, "You have to choose, Tony, you have to choose between the god of the church, or the beauty that is here and now." I love, a few paragraphs later, when Tony asks, "Does one have to chose? Is it possible to have both?" --Exactly. I would say yes, it's possible to hold both at the same time.

Antonio also struggles to define good and evil throughout the book and struggles to pin point what constitutes each. His father tells him, "I think most of the things we call evil are not evil at all; it is just that we don't understand those things and so we call them evil. And we fear evil only because we do not understand it." Exactly! And that's the point some of us have been trying to get across in our discussions. His father goes on to say that "in the end understanding simply means having sympathy for people. Ultima has sympathy for people, and it is so complete that with it she can touch their souls and cure them. That is her magic. Ay, and no greater magic can exist." Tony goes on to reflect on what he's learned and says, "I made strength from everything that had happened to me, so that in the end even the final tragedy could not defeat me. And that is what Ultima tried to teach me, that the tragic consequences of life can be overcome by the magical strength that resides in the human heart." Man, how beautiful is that? We talked about how ethics (like understanding, sympathy, empathy) come from the kind of love you have for people. And that the real tragedy is not being able to connect with other people--for empathy is at the root of love.

It seems that Anaya's purpose was to write a story that makes readers uncomfortable--to make Western readers question their perceptions of spirituality and shake the roots of what we believe and raise questions. He causes readers, like myself, to question how and why so many people blindly believe in tradition and asks us to stand outside of our position as Christians and realize that the world is a bigger audience than Christians. Linda encouraged us to use our reactions to the text as data, to figure out what we bring to the text and why we react the way we do, and then to consider what we believe and how others would react to it. I thought that was a pretty cool way to alter our perceptions and understanding, not only in terms of understanding the text but in how examining our own faith, we're able to better understand it, and thus make it stronger. Gwen asked Linda something about how her understanding of God and Christianity has changed over the years. She said, "God is more beautiful, I know less; I'm more mystical in my faith and appreciative of the mystical in my faith" I thought that was pretty cool.

------------------------------

If you haven't read this book, I urge you to pick it up sometime--it's fantastic and generates some great contemplation, reflection, & conversation.

Photo Challenge Day 22

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at

I wish that I was better at timeliness!!! If you know me at all you know that I tend to struggle with this pretty much on a daily basis. It's terrible, I know, and I need to work on it. I guess we can't all be winners in that department all the time. In the meantime, I'll keep setting my clocks and watches ahead in the hopes of getting to where I need to be ON TIME. :-)

Photo Challenge Day 21

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget

Sure, it's entirely cliché to say that there's nothing I want to forget but that's the honest truth. I've experienced more darkness in my short 24 years than I'd ever wish on anyone, even Dick Cheney. But what "they" say is true--all of life, even the ugliness and misery, is important in forming the unique person each of us becomes. I had a teacher in high school who told me that I was "blessed with misery." I wasn't sure how I felt about his remark--wasn't sure that I believed him. About a year later, though, I gained some good perspective and understood what he meant. We are blessed with misery. It isn't that misery and ugliness itself is a blessing, but that blessing and grace often shine in the midst of ugliness and misery. Grace and blessing are what happens when God makes flowers push up through the misery and ugliness.

Five years ago, as a freshman, I wrote a paper about human suffering for my philosophy class. I included some personal stories to illustrate some of my points. And this is some of what my professor said in response: "The world is a beautiful and dangerous place, isn't it.  There is so much joy and gladness I can sometimes hardly conain myself. And there is so much pain and misery I can sometimes hardly contain myself. And we live smack dab in the middle. That's where the light shines. In the midst of the darkness. Feet in the mud. Heart in the sky, and grace is right there, for those w/ eyes to see. You seem to be seeing it, and I'm so glad."

Most days, I do indeed see the grace through it all and understand how all of my life's events have made me into the wonderful and strong woman I am becoming. And for that reason, I don't want to forget a second and lose many of the difficult leasons I've learned. As the wise Erykah Badu sings, ""peace and blessings manifest with every lesson learned."

I'll leave you with a few quotes that seem approps:

"Kick at the darkness til it bleeds daylight." --Bruce Cockburn, "Lovers In a Dangerous Time"

"I've been in trouble, but I'm okay.  Been through the ringer, but I'm okay. Walls are falling and I'm okay. Under the mercy, and I'm okay." --Bruce Cockburn, "Fascist Architecture"

"Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace." --Frederick Buechner
 

Photo Challenge Day 20

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel 

While I definitely want to travel out of the U.S. at some point, I definitely want to do an extensive tour of all 50 states. One state in particular that I want to explore that I haven't been to is South Carolina. 

mountains!

I especially want to see this, the Angel Oak Tree on John's Island near Charleston, SC -- this colossal beauty is upwards of 1,500 years old!

I forsee an epic road trip full of adventure and wondrous beauty! :-)

Photo Challenge Day 19

Day 19 - A picture of you when you were little

When I was little I loved, loved, loved to play "dress up" - usually wearing dresses, random accesories, and makeup just for fun, and sometimes even just random costumes.

no, it wasn't Halloween--I just felt like being a pumpkin :-)

The trend of breaking my wrists began early. But who says one can't still be fashionable with a cast?

Wedding Barbie and I had matching dresses & veils :-)

'cause fishing & dresses totally go together

I spent hours upon hours playing dress up at Grandma's--she had a lot of fun jewelry :-)

sometimes even Jeff would join in the fun and play "Pretty, Pretty Princess" with Grams & me :-)

my neighbor Karina and I carried on the dress up phase throughout elementary school--this was one of her dresses that I loved :-)

this was a flower girl dress my Grams had made for me several years previous--I never wanted to stop wearing it (and yes, I do still have it in my closet) :-)



Good times, indeed! :-) 

Photo Challenge Day 18

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity

My biggest insecurity is probably my lack of faith in myself--specifically about finishing school. College hasn't been easy these past several years--not in that classes and coursework have been too difficult but rather I've let life's trials and messiness get in the way of my success. In light of this, I've heard more than my share of jokes and nasty comments about me never finishing school coming from family and friends. It still gets to me sometimes but at this point, I'm getting much better at ignoring the naysayers and letting go of that fear and instead focusing on rational reasons to believe in myself.
I know that I'm the only one who can guarantee my success and I'm gonna reach for it and I'm so looking forward to the sweet day of graduation in May when I walk across the stage and I'll know that I fulfilled this goal. :-)  

Photo Challenge Day 17

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

I was trying to decide on what to write about for this blog--one thing in particular came to mind right away but I wasn't sure if I wanted to share it on this blog due to its highly personal nature. But then I figured it's something I recently shared with a few hundred strangers so what's a small handful more?

Last fall I joined Calvin College's Sexual Assault Prevention Team (SAPT) --it's a group of students, faculty, and staff that come together to both educate ourselves on the issue and current law as well as to educate the broader campus through various activities and lectures. One of the ideas we discussed last semester was to direct one of the daily chapel services on campus on a day designated for "Community Voices" in which we'd feature a montage of survivor stories read by and on behalf of survirors of sexual assault. The idea was really frightening to me and that's why I decided that I needed to be a part of it. The chapel schedule was so full by the time we solidified our idea that we weren't slotted until early March, which was fine by me cause I had a lot of preparation and processing to do.

The day of the chapel came before I knew it and I was extremely nervous but I knew that I was as ready as I'd ever be. Luckily, one of my best buds, Kim Randle, was able to come along with me and be my supportive, grounding voice (words can't begin to express my gratitude--love you, Kim!). It took a lot for me to be a part of the service but I'm really glad that I did. I'm finding that I'm much stronger and braver that I ever give myself credit for--and more supported and loved than I know. The story I shared is one that only a small handful of people had heard before so sharing it with such a large group was terrifying but I knew that it was something I needed to do to continue my healing process. I hoped, too, that something I had to say would be powerful for someone listening.

Even though the stories being shared got harder as we progressed through the montage I felt myself getting stronger with each word spoken as I felt lifted up by the compassionate smiles I got from my friends and counselors who'd come to support me. Before I knew it, the stories, songs, and prayers were over and I was in the midst of warm hugs and so many beautifully encouraging words from friends, counselors, professors, and our chaplain. Throughout the day and for some time after a number of people, known and unknown, reached out to me and thanked me for sharing my story. I can't even describe how affirming that was and it just made me feel a hundred times better about my choice to be a part of the chapel. It felt so good and empowering to publically stand with other survivors and let me voice be heard. As Maya Angelou once said, "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." --Amen to that!

(There's me on the far left.) My shirt is different from the others' cause I wasn't a part of the Team last year when they got those shirts (which say "BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION"). While I wish I had one of those shirts I think I have a pretty cool shirt of my own. It simply says "Voice" (which I got from the Alzheimer's Assocation a few years back) and that perfectly captures the message of my story and I think the main message we wanted to get across with our chapel--the importance of giving voice to and shedding much needed light on such an important issue that touches so many lives. I am so thankful for having the chance to have been a part of something like this, to hear others' stories, and to work with such a great group of people--their courage, passion for justice, and support is always inspiring--and I am forever changed by this unique experience.    

Photo Challenge Day 16

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you

I'm so blessed to have a wealth of inspiring people in my life.  The first person who comes to mind, though, when I'm asked who inspires me is undoubtedly Linda Naranjo-Huebl. For the last four and half-ish years Linda has taken on several roles in my life: professor, advisor, mentor, and friend.

if you don't know this lady, you are seriously missing out!

There's so much to say about this incredible woman! She's been inspiring in so many ways over the years and I've been really fortunate to be able to get to know her well both in and out of the classroom. What I really love about Linda is her confidence and her drive--she's incredibly committed to everything she does and consistently pushes herself in a quest for excellence. When she told me that after getting married and having two children she went to college all the way up to receiving her PhD I was blown away--to earn a PhD is impressive but to do so as a young mother is quite remarkable in my book. And the way she and her husband supported one another as they finished school is quite special--they're pretty much a husband/wife dream team. What's more amazing than all of her scholastic achievements, though, is the wonderful person she is. Having known her for almost 5 years, I feel like I have a fairly good understanding of who she is and how she operates, and the more I get to know her, the more I love her. (Excuse the sap fest!) And sure, don't get me wrong, she can be slightly bossy, a little opinionated, sometimes overbearing, and her occasional sardonic sense of humor can throw you for a loop. But at her core, Linda is a beautifully complex, compassionate, hilarious, creative soul. Her spirit and presence just radiate joy (most days anyway) :-) and she's someone who helps me to realize just how beautiful my world is. As my professor and mentor, she's helped me to find who I am and in many ways to be a better human being by simply observing her example. Some of my greatest lessons from Linda include learning the great value of being able to laugh at myself, that the most powerful resitance against oppression is celebrating life, and that closure is overrated. :-) 

 Here are some snapshots of fun times with Linda over the years:



Lunch date at Gaia with Linda & Carolina, May 2007



Linda's been a really wonderful source of light in my life so I like to make a point to thank her and celebrate her every now and then.

secret fiesta for Linda's birthday #1 (the decoy), October 2007

secret fiesta # 2 for Linda's Birthday @ Shang Hai Ichiban, October 2007

at the "friends of Jen" party, May 2008

Hamming it up at Casa Avelina in Taos, NM, during the Taos Arts & Literature Interim, January 2009





Walking out by the Rio Grande Gorge and soaking in the incredible beauty of New Mexico with Linda & Jocelyn, January 2009

In 2009, a classmate and I nominated her for a teaching award that recognizes professors who, through their teaching, demonstrate and uphold the themes of Calvin's FEN document (essentially Calvin's mission statement on multiculturalism and anti-racism): multicultural citizenship, anti-racism & accountability, and reconciliation & restoration. And without doubt, she much deservedly won. :-)

Linda, Matt, & me @ the FEN Award ceremony, March 2009

always a highlight of my week: meeting with Linda for tea and a good chat :-), April 2009



Mentoring Celebration Dessert, April 2009

making an outrageously delicious dinner @ Linda's house with Christian and hanging with these lovely ladies, May 2009  

chillin' by Reeds Lake after church on a Sunday afternoon with Scott, Linda, Kim, & Nalini, October 2010

celebrating beautiful Nalini's birthday with a lunch at Rose's, October 2010



¡Sorpresa! A surprise dinner @ Graydon's for Linda's birthday, October 2010



Enchanting an audience at Calvin Writers Read in the new art gallery on campus, November 2010. Linda is an incredible singer and musician and she uses her voice like she does everything else--with amazing grace.



back in Taos, NM, at the bottom of the beautiful Rio Grande Gorge, January 2011

Out by another portion of the Gorge with Linda, Josh, & Silas. This hike was so special in its beauty and the moderate danger it entailed (or at least that our adventuresome spirits decided it would) and the fellowship that ensued. When we got to the end of the trail we just sat, awestruck by God's craftsmanship. Linda suggested we sing "In the Beauty of Holiness" but the fellas didn't know it so us gals sang a duet. I wouldn't say that I'm a really fantastic singer but I can carry a tune, especially when paired with an extraordinary voice like Linda's. It's always fun singing in the car with her but this was a uniquely special and spiritual moment that I'll always cherish. :-)    

an amazing sunset, good wine, and fabulous people out at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, January 2011

enjoying the beautiful sights of the Taos area, January 2011

loving the delectable dishes of the southwest @ the Old Blinking Light & Orlando's, January 2011



Great times at Casa Avelina, January 2011 -- not only is Linda an amazing cook but she can make a mean margarita! :-D 





so much laughter (and wine) :-)

now, if you know me at all, you know that I'm super shy and really don't like dancing but some sort of frenzy must have come over me cause I joined in the fun and made a fool of myself as Linda tried to teach us some moves :-)



LIMBO!

Linda taught us how to play the "paper bag game"

which she, of course, is ridiculously skilled at!

so lovely!

As I mentioned, Linda is inspiring in so many ways and I am so thankful for the friendship that God's fostered between us. She's one of those people that I can talk to about almost anything--I love knowing that we can debate political issues, discuss religious doctrine, talk about our families, and share prayer requests just as easily as we can talk about who we find attractive, make jokes, and hatch devious schemes. :-) It's nice, too, being able to take her classes and at the same time worship together at church, enjoy meals together, and have her & her husband over for some intense Wii games. :-) And even though she likes to give me a hard time every now and then (and crack a lot of jokes at my expense) I know that she cares deeply for me and has my best interest at heart. More than anything, Linda's taught me, by her example, to love life and to live it fully. Since I've known her, I've become more bold, daring (if you knew all of the crazy foods I've tried since meeting this woman you would be SHOCKED!), and confident about who I am and what I want from life.

All of this to say that Linda Naranjo-Huebl is one inspiring lady! :-)

I recently nominated her for another teaching award--this is what I had to say (more of why/how she's inspiring) ...hopefully she wins! :-D

1. How has this professor demonstrated excellence in teaching?  How has she created in you an excitement for learning? How has she drawn you into the subject and challenged your intellect?

During my first semester at Calvin I took my first literature class with Professor Linda Naranjo-Huebl. Before that class I was more interested in writing than reading but her course sparked in me a passion for fiction that I was not sure existed and she changed the way that I read literature and the value I see in it. Her insight, her amazing breadth of knowledge, and her faith-centered approach made the class memorable and invaluable to me. Now, at the end of my time at Calvin, I’ve taken eight courses with her and each of them was amazing. Professor Naranjo-Huebl’s courses are always intellectually stimulating and academically rigorous and have an amazing ability to challenge and inspire me and help me find a new way of seeing. I appreciate that Naranjo-Huebl views literature as a lens through which to learn about culture, knowing that the best novels most effectively portray the realities of the human condition. As a reader, Professor Naranjo-Huebl is interested in looking at the people on the edges of the texts; she firmly believes that no one is irrelevant, and no one should be ignored, evidenced by her passion for teaching American ethnic literature and Women’s literature. And even in her American literature classes and her 101 course, Professor Naranjo-Huebl notes writers and thinkers who fell outside of the mainstream or were ignored or forgotten but whose work offered a significant contribution to the American cannon of literature and American culture.

Professor Naranjo-Huebl’s teaching has been so inspiring and it is because of my classes with her that I decided to change my course of study. I was declared as a double major in English and Social Work with the hopes of becoming a social worker; I am still pursuing social work, but I have decided on a less conventional course—an interdisciplinary major that features American ethnic literature, Sociology, and Gender Studies. We have come up with a long but comprehensive title: Dynamics of Gender, Class, & Ethnicity in Social Structures and Personal Psychology. This decision was inspired by everything I have been learning in Professor Naranjo-Huebl’s classes, as strong emphasis is put on highlighting and examining the intersections of gender, class, and ethnicity.  All of my ethnic literature classes have been crucial in building my knowledge base as a prospective social worker and I greatly appreciate that the information I learn in her classes is applicable to not only my other courses, but also fundamental to my future career. What also makes her stand out from other professors is that she is not looking to see what students can memorize, but that we can synthesize all of the information we have learned over the course of the semester and then what connections we are able to make. I find this to be a much more valuable and effective approach.     

I think the work that Professor Naranjo-Huebl does is grossly underappreciated—not just at Calvin, but in the academic world in general. Without her, there would be no one at Calvin College to teach the various American ethnic literature classes: African American, Asian American, Chicano, Native American—and what a tremendous loss that would be for Calvin’s students and Calvin as an institution. Besides the broad scope of courses Professor Naranjo-Huebl is able to teach, what is equally impressive is the depth of knowledge and humanity she brings to the material. And for Professor Naranjo-Huebl, her mission is not focused on how great her colleagues think she is, but rather it is about what students take away from her classroom. She truly believes in what she teaches, and is confident that the lessons she offers can create empathetic adults (what our society needs more than anything). As her student (and one who has taken almost all of her classes), I definitely know better than most how phenomenal she is. Last year, I had the privilege of nominating her for the 2009 FEN Award for Teaching Excellence to honor her for her commitment to upholding the themes of the FEN document through her teaching: multicultural citizenship, anti-racism & accountability, reconciliation & restoration. Professor Naranjo-Huebl is someone whose commitment pushes her to the heights of excellence and she holds herself to great standards whether award committees are watching or not.

2. How has this professor affected you spiritually?  How has she been a Christian role model for students, nurturing faith and facilitating spiritual growth?

One of the main reasons I chose to attend Calvin was to reconnect with my faith and learn what it truly means to be a Christian and know God. During the Interim of my freshman year, I found the courage to discuss the trouble with my faith with a few trusted professors. Professor Naranjo-Huebl was one of them. I asked her if there was a local church she could recommend. She said I should come to church with her that Sunday (to Madison Square CRC); I did, and I have not left since. Whenever I have a question about any aspect of the Christian faith, I feel comfortable enough to ask Professor Naranjo-Huebl, and she is always more than happy to discuss whatever is on my mind. She once told me, “I’m so excited for you, your journey; you were definitely brought to Calvin for a reason.” I took great comfort in that. She was also one of the first people who had ever asked if they could pray with me. This concept was a little foreign to me, but it is something I have come to love. We often pray together, through the good and the bad. She has also helped me learn to extend grace to myself—just as God does. I came to Calvin not really knowing what it meant to live life as a devoted Christian but Professor Naranjo-Huebl has been such an awesome example for me—an example that I really need to see. I admire her greatly because she stays true to what she believes and intentionally lives that out in all that she does because she is someone who cannot live with anything less. Her faith is so deep and strong—no matter how awful things become, she is able to find comfort in the Lord and keeps walking through life in a Christ-like manner. Nearly everything I know about God and walking the Christian life I have learned from Linda and her shining example.

In her classes, Professor Naranjo-Huebl talks about the power of storytelling and how it functions as a communal act; she emphasizes its importance for both the listener and the teller. In the process there lies the amazing capacity to heal, to teach, and to delight. In light of this, she encourages sensitivity to and careful analysis of all voices—particularly those that have been marginalized and made invisible by dominant society. And as we explore the stories of others, Professor Naranjo-Huebl draws attention to the concept of empathy and the great power it wields. She notes that empathy is the engine that powers all the best in us—it is what civilizes us, it is what connects us and enables us to feel another’s despair and anguish as if it were our own. And thus, storytelling and listening to stories is not only an ethical pursuit, but a holy pursuit as well. For, as she points out, if we are all image bearers of God, then the more stories we hear, the more we learn about others, and thus the more we learn about God. She also reminds students to stand outside of their position as Christians and realize that the world is a bigger audience than Christians. Professor Naranjo-Huebl encourages us to use our reactions to the text as data, to figure out what we bring to the text and why we react the way we do, and then to consider what we believe and how others would react to it. I thought that was an interesting way to alter our perceptions and understanding, not only in terms of understanding the text but in how examining our own faith, we are able to better understand it, and thus make it stronger.

If you’ve ever met Professor Naranjo-Huebl, you know that she is very committed to justice, truth, and the value of a single human being and advocates engagement, involvement, and personal responsibility in larger world events—essentially, the individual in the global society taking responsibility for the world they live in. She emphasizes how easy it is to become apathetic not make a choice at all, how easy it is to sit back and do nothing. She consistently echoes: “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” She urges us, as Christians, to search our own souls and determine whether we are falling into the correct categories, whether we are standing on the side of justice in God’s eyes. She insists that “the best project we can undertake as Christians is to recognize the mistakes of our culture so we can repent and work for reconciliation and healing; we need to be co-workers with God.” And in this way, she has helped me to articulate a biblical response to racism and the other social evils in our world. But at the same time, she does not tell students how to think or what to believe, but rather invites us to participate in a conversation about issues that are difficult and do not have clear, clean-cut answers.

In terms of helping to facilitate my spiritual growth, I’ve learned the most from Naranjo-Huebl’s example. One of the things I like best and admire most about her is her perspective and her ability to keep sight of the positives and celebrate those through adversity. She is better at that than anyone I know, and I am truly blessed and grateful to have a voice like hers in my corner. A few years ago I was having an especially awful day and went to speak with her and I will never forget what she said to me: “Jen, I wish I had a magic wand so I could change your perspective.” No one had ever said that to me before—it has always been, “I wish I had a magic wand so I could make things better.” And I so deeply appreciate her words because in that way, she taught me to embrace everything that comes my way and to approach it with a different perspective, reminding me that God is with me always. Her faithfulness in God’s covenant is such a blessing to me to witness. I am so grateful to her for helping me to experience God in such a new way.

3. How has this professor demonstrated genuine concern for students?  How has her concern for your welfare and an eagerness to see you learn and grow as an individual impacted you?

Aside from the content of her courses, what is equally important is Professor Naranjo-Huebl’s style of teaching. She establishes a welcoming learning environment and is sensitive to the needs and accommodations of all students and is willing to work closely with any student that requires extra help. She also makes an effort to be as multi-sensory as possible, incorporating music and art whenever possible, as a way to appeal to all learning types and enrich the topic being explored. Professor Naranjo-Huebl is eager to make the classroom experience valuable, worthwhile, engaging, stimulating, and enjoyable.

Since my first fall semester in 2006, Professor Naranjo-Huebl has, rather graciously, taken on several roles in my life: professor, advisor, mentor (through Calvin’s Mentoring program), and friend. Aside from being the most influential teacher I have ever had, she had also been the most remarkable mentor I could ever be lucky enough to find. I will always remember the very first day of class I had with Professor Naranjo-Huebl as a freshman. In her syllabus under class policies was the word “help.” It read: “I am available for students needing help of any kind—academic, personal, spiritual.” I thought to myself, wow, I need two of the three, this lady sounds pretty great. She went on to mention that the years during college are often the most difficult, emotionally, and are also when the rates of depression are most high. She spoke a little bit about the problems her eldest daughter went through and reiterated that if anyone needed help, she was available, along with several other resources on campus. At that time I was going through my own intense struggles, and so, with quite a bit of nervousness, I went in to talk to her, and she was just so compassionate and understanding and helpful. Almost right away, I felt very comfortable talking to her, and ended up doing so a couple of times a week. And in a short time, we became good friends, able to share our joys and troubles with one another. Having known her for a long time, I’ve witnessed how she’s been able to be such a wonderful source of support for countless other students as well. Whether it’s personal struggles, academic struggles in courses, conflicts with other students or professor, spiritual struggles, etc. Professor Naranjo-Huebl is there for her students and makes that abundantly clear. She is also very aware of power dynamics between faculty and students and so she is careful to protect students in and out of the classroom and is willing to support and go to bat for students in need. It goes without saying but she’s incredibly approachable and she very clearly cares deeply for students.

What is also really wonderful is that she’s invested in Calvin’s campus—aside from her courses, departmental duties, and serving on various committees, she somehow finds the time to make herself available to support student organizations. As someone who’s been involved in various student leadership positions it’s nice to know that Professor Naranjo-Huebl will both offer to be involved in events and also just show up to them to offer her support—from my experience, that’s actually pretty rare. But it sends a clear message to students that she genuinely cares about us and the people that we are becoming.

4. Additional comments.

I admire and appreciate the spirit of Professor Linda Naranjo-Huebl: a strong, willful, vulnerable, honest, Christian woman, who serves as a role model for young women as an example of passion, commitment, fortitude, and determination. And, I say all of this not to put Naranjo-Huebl up on any pedestal, because we all come to the table as broken people, but just in appreciation for someone who has changed not only the way I view literature and education, but the way I see the world. Professor Naranjo-Huebl is a treasure and most definitely deserves this award.