When Brianna Nance and Rachel Zdrojewski graduated from high school, they weren’t exactly sure what they wanted to do next, but they each knew pretty quickly where they were heading.

Nance’s parents are both classical musicians and she had been playing the flute at a high level throughout high school.  So, she visited colleges where she could play for a scholarship. That landed her at a small liberal arts college in upstate New York, just a few hours from her hometown.

For Zdrojewski, she was heading to Muskegon Community College (MCC) through the Muskegon Promise—a scholarship that provides two years of free tuition at MCC for students in Muskegon County who graduate with a 3.5 GPA or higher.

“I wanted to go to college, but I had no idea what I wanted to major in,” said Zdrojewski. “So, this option provided me more time to save money.”

But, after two years, Zdrojewski was no closer to knowing what she wanted to do. And for Nance, her first year in upstate New York left her feeling disconnected and unfulfilled. Both realized they had not found their final college destination. They were looking to reroute.

Looking for connections

For Nance, a music teacher she had studied with for more than a decade growing up advised her to take a test to explore careers that matched her personality.  The two that rose to the top: bartender and speech pathologist.

Now Nance quickly ruled the first one out. As for the latter option? “I had no idea what that was,” said Nance.

So, she googled it and then shadowed someone who was working in that field.

“From psychology to biology to social work to linguistics, it [speech pathology] drew together a perfect mix of all the things I liked,” said Nance.

For Zdrojewski, she took the advice of her friend who was doing a gap year and suggested she consider the same. So, after exploring the option, she decided that was a good next step for her too.

During her time doing a gap year at Bridge Street Ministries in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Zdrojewski had the opportunity to work with local middle schoolers doing art projects, going on field trips, and leading bible studies. Through the experience, she landed on wanting to pursue a career in secondary education.

Choosing their next stop

Nance and Zdrojewski had discovered what they wanted to do, and it was now time to choose where they would be equipped for this work.

For Nance, she applied to a number of large universities, but to only one smaller Christian university. “I was disillusioned with Christian communities throughout high school,” admitted Nance, “but my dad bugged me to apply to Calvin because his whole family went there.”

What Nance discovered as she started doing research online and upon her visits to numerous large universities was Calvin’s national reputation.

“When I was googling top programs in speech pathology, Calvin’s name kept popping up,” said Nance.

And she said she wasn’t just seeing Calvin’s program rise to the top regionally or within Christian higher education.

“Other big universities said Calvin has a great program and some were recommending Calvin to me,” said Nance.

So, Nance decided to take their advice and make the transfer.

For Zdrojewski, once she had decided she wanted to be a teacher, her decision on where to prepare was simple.

“I wanted to stay in Grand Rapids, I enjoy a biblical Christian perspective, and I wanted a program that had a high emphasis on not just social justice, but biblical justice. With those criteria, it was a no-brainer.”

Zdrojewski decided to make the transfer to Calvin as well.

“This is where I want to go, this is going to be my place,” thought Zdrojewski.

For both Nance and Zdrojewski, that it has become.

Making Calvin home

While Nance said the first year was hard as she started in 2020, “once COVID restrictions were lifted and I could be involved in spaces, my experience changed.”

Nance got involved in campus ministries and outdoor recreation. In fact, during her time at Calvin she helped develop an outdoor recreation ministry—an unexpected community that she said has breathed life into her.

For Zdrojewski, she had worked the summer prior to transferring to Calvin at a camp that Calvin’s orientation leaders go to for their training each year. So, coming in she already knew a group of students and she said that helped make the transition much smoother.

By her second semester, she had joined the admissions team as a transfer caller and the next year she became a transfer orientation leader. She was now helping other students looking to transfer feel more confident in their decision.

World Ready

Nance is now entering her final year at Calvin. She graduated in May 2023 with her bachelor’s degree and she’s now finishing up her master’s in speech pathology. She feels well prepared to enter her field.

“From an academic perspective, I am very well prepared,” said Nance. “We started clinicals two weeks into grad school, where a lot of grad schools don’t start that soon. For our region, Calvin grads are more prepared than those grads from other institutions. Hospitals want to take Calvin grads; some only take Calvin grads. It’s a highly sought-after grad program because they prepare you so well.”

Zdrojewski is entering her final year at Calvin as well. She’s enjoyed her education classes and even added a Spanish education minor along the way. And her longtime dream of studying abroad will happen this spring as she’ll spend her final semester at Calvin studying abroad in Spain.

Nance and Zdrojewski made Calvin their final educational destination and say it was definitely a transfer worth taking.

“I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone and into a place that I was excited to be,” said Zdrojewski. “I did not expect to grow as much as I have or learn as many things about myself as I did.”

“I think that four years ago I would not have anticipated where my life is now,” said Nance. “I have seen the ways God has restored some faith in Christian communities and Christian institutions. I have found really dear friends, dear mentors, experienced community on a different level than what I had coming to Calvin.

"Prior to coming to Calvin, my life was very focused on music,” said Nance. “Now, I love to climb and mountain bike. I wouldn't have had access to these things, which are now my weekly rhythms, without Calvin."