Yee Eun Ahn

Yee Eun Ahn '17: It all starts with thinking deeply.

Current role: English Teacher at Calvin Christian High School in Grandville, Michigan

What part of the English program was most unexpected for you?
I wasn’t expecting the endlessly witty and humorous interactions among the faculty members. If you ever have had the pleasure of witnessing one of these interactions, you know what I’m talking about. Also, there is a culture of bread making in the English department that one can experience during interim at Soup Mondays.

What’s one thing you would want to tell someone starting their journey at Calvin?
Build relationships with the professors and staff members. The professors are not only knowledgeable, but also kind and inspiring. You can learn a lot from them about how to live a beautiful life.

How has your faith grown at Calvin?
One of the ways that my faith has grown at Calvin is through engaging in difficult topics with others in a community that values true dialogue. One of the things that I appreciate at Calvin College is that people I have encountered, whether RDs, professors or colleagues, do not shy away from thinking deeply about how to work toward redemption in this world.
I have also come to understand the importance of relationships at Calvin. By this, I mean the importance of surrounding yourself with people that will challenge you to go further in your faith; to go beyond your comfort levels. I have found that God works through people to encourage you, to help you see the beauty of life—even in dire circumstances. I have learned that having faith often means having to sit with tragedy.

What part of Calvin’s mission resonates with you, and why?
Calvin’s mission to equip students to think deeply resonates particularly with me, because I think this is where it all starts. I have to think deeply about what it means to be a Christian and what implications this has for me to be an agent of renewal. As an English teacher, I hope to pass this on to my students, to challenge them to become critical thinkers that recognize that we are called to face the world we live in and spread Christ’s love and justice.