VIP: Very Inspiring People

February 2016

VIP very inspiring people

This special edition of The Sailors’ Log is dedicated to those who have inspired us to be who we are.

VIP

This special edition of The Sailors’ Log is dedicated to those who have inspired us to be who we are.

Page 1 – Editor-in-chief Abby Keessen writes about her mother who spent time in the Peace Corps

Page 2 – Profiles editor Kendahl MacLaren writes about her mother who always has a positive attitude Page 3 – Entertainment editor Jack Eyke writes about his father who leads a balanced lifestyle Page 4 – Editorial editor Jennifer Peterson writes about her brother who is her role model Page 5 – Staff writer Kina Grotenhuis writes about her father who was adopted and found his biological parents Page 6 – Staff writer Isaac Cathey writes about his father, a deputy for the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Dept.

Page 7 – Staff writer Sam Bondy writes about his parents who have made education a priority Page 8 – Photo editor Chloe Grigsby writes about a Shores graduate who embodies balance in one’s self Page 10 – Staff writer Kaitlin Hermanson writes about her late mother who was known for her kindness Page 11 – Feature editor Steffen Newman writes about Shores At-Risk Coordinator who helps students Page 12 – Feature editor Katie Schouten writes about her grandfather who made family a priority Page 13 –Sports editor Kennedy Potts writes about an aunt who has persevered through life’s obstacles Page 14 – Center section editor Jenna Beemer writes about her sister who struggles with cell disorder Page 16 – Staff writer Aaron Fongers writes about a youth pastor who resurrected student ministry Page 18 – Sports editor Joel DeVoursney writes about his older brother who has taught him life lessons Page 19 – Staff writer Leyanna Jordan-Brown writes about an exchange student who became a friend

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Peace of Mine

Mother’s time in Corps motivates senior

My mom has had a lot of cool experiences in her life. The coolest one, in her opinion and mine, was when she joined the Peace Corps and traveled halfway around the world to live on an island 27 miles long island for two years.

Allison Keessen lived in the village of Ngkeklau on the island of Palau in Micronesia in the Pacific Ocean from June 1990 until September of 1992.

“I always wanted to Abby (join the Peace Corps),” Keessen my mom said. “I remember wanting to when I was eight. Not necessarily the Peace Corps but something along those lines. I think I heard a sermon in church when I was little about a girl who did some service work overseas and I thought, ‘I’m going to do that.’

I didn’t necessarily want to do church mission work, but I knew I wanted to do service work. I wanted to learn about another culture and serve in some way, but in the end, I think I learned more than I contributed.”

While in the village of Ngkeklaw, she received a village name which the people there called her.

“My name was Nguerosech,” she said.

“It was a family name. I lived with a family and my grandmother chose it for me because either her grandmother or great grandmother had light skin also. My first (given) name was Surech, and it was from this legend of this very beautiful women, a Palauan version of Romeo and Juliet, but then my grandmother changed it because it wasn’t good enough.”

My mother was a woman of many hats during her time in Palau; she taught English as a second language and elementary music, translated, and wrote grant proposals.

“I had a dual assignment as community development (worker) and (teacher),” my mom said. “Under my duties as community development worker, I wrote

Allison Keessen spent 27 months on the island nation of Palau in the early 1990s as part of the Peace Corps. grant proposals and got funding to build a library in the school and got books donated. I wrote a grant to get solar lighting panels on all the houses since there was no electricity (in order) to provide light at night. I translated the installation manual for the solar panel into Palauan.”

To me, learning a unique language on the spot and being able to translate it is impressive.

While she wrote the grant proposal to get the solar lighting panels and translated the manual, she did not install the panels. That kind of work was not women’s work in the Palauan culture.

For her, the difficult part wasn’t being away from family or my dad, whom she was dating, but the cultural adjustment.

“It was kind of lonely at first, like when I didn’t know the language,” my mom said. “There is a lot of sitting and visiting, so at first when I didn’t know the language and I was just listening (to others’ conversations), I would almost fall asleep.”

While the Peace Corps is filled with service work and exciting opportunities, there’s also a lot of down time.

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“I did a lot of reading, and it wasn’t really acceptable to just go off to your room and read, but sometimes you just had to,” she said.

Palau is a place of subsistence living.

As my mom said, “You caught fish, and you ate it.”

There was canned food brought back from the capitol; evaporated and sweetened condensed milk were pretty common items, but no one just went to the store and came back with food. There was an understanding that food, especially any canned food, was for people, not animals, so when my mom tried to have a dog, it went against the culture.

“I found a dog in the woods in the coconut trees, and I named him Leo,” she said. “Leois was the Palauan word for coconut, so it was like an Americanized version of a Palauan word. He was feral, and he ended up running away, but I had a dog for a while.”

The most profound memory was when she felt like she was truly accepted into the community as one of their own.

“There are so many (favorite moments), but one of the best things, when I felt the most honored was when they gave me a plot of land to plant my own sweet potatoes and cassava (a starchy root),” she reflected. “All the women had their own garden, and they gave me one too to tend to, and it was significant because that meant that they accepted me into their community and didn’t just see me as a guest.”

I really admire my mother for her dedication to the Peace Corps and for serving in Palau, something I think is really inspiring.

Personally, I don’t see this type of experience in my future. When signing up for the Peace Corps, one doesn’t know where he or she will be placed or what he or she will be doing, and that would be one of the most difficult parts for me.

It’s all up to chance. But in her case, it worked greatly in her favor.

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Happy days

Junior’s mom approaches each day smiling

To know the true essence of My mom had to find a job and my mom, one needs to know that decided to become a daycare she is never not smiling. provider from home.

It’s true; she is always smiling.

When making the huge deMy mom runs a daycare at our cision of choosing a career, her house, and working with children decision wasn’t based solely on can bring about many unexpected herself but also on the family she events, events that didn’t even have yet. would keep many “I always knew that I wanted people from smilto be the person to fully raise ing; somehow, my children, and I didn’t want my mom manages to miss out on those important to smile – every moments in their lives,” she said. time.

“Even before they were born, that Kendahl Some days was always in my heart.”

MacLaren when I come The thoughtful person my home, there will be a crying baby mom is is the person I want to be or a sick child. As much as my someday. My mom’s love for her mom would prefer the children to family shines above anything she be calm, it is difficult to always does. have perfect children.

“I love everything about my Jennifer MacLaren (right) approaches each day with a When this happens, my mom smile, which is something junior Kendahl MacLaren family,” my mom said. “I love will take care of the situation (left) admires about her mom in her day-to-day outlook that no matter if things are good with a smile on her face – every on life. or bad, we will always be there time. for each other. My family is my out of high school, she married her high Her positive energy and endless smile world, and they are my best friends.” school sweetheart, my dad Paul MacLarare qualities that I admire.

My mom’s heart is so big that when en. He joined the Air Force, and they My mom, Jennifer MacLaren, has asked her biggest dream she didn’t even moved to Colorado at a young age. always been one of the most caring and think about herself, only of her family.

“Since I was away from home, I had thoughtful people whom I know.

“My biggest dream is that my kids to grow up quickly on my own,” my For as long as I can remember, my will grow up to be successful and happy,” mom said. “I think all of those things mom has always put others’ feelings and she said.

“I want them to have profescombined make me the person I am needs before even thinking about herself, today.” sions that they enjoy and that bring them and that’s why I look up to her. fulfillment in life. I also dream that they Along with her family and moving “I have a very big heart,” my mom away, one of her biggest role models was will have healthy relationships. I just said. “I’m a pretty giving person. I want them living what they consider their from back in elementary school. always like to try to put other people’s dream. Then secondly, my dream for my“I had a teacher in first and second feelings, wants, and needs before my self is that my husband (Paul MacLaren) grade. Her name was Mrs. Bont,” my own, especially my kids.” and I can move somewhere warm out of mom said. “I really looked up to her My mom learned to be this way after Michigan after we retire that will still be and appreciated the way she continued a growing up learning to share in a family near my grandkids.” relationship with me even when I wasn’t of seven, including four sisters and herBeing close to my mom, both literally in her class anymore. She genuinely self. and in our hearts is something that I don’t cared about me as a student and a person.

“I was similar to one of my sisters ever want to go away.

Maybe that’s part of the reason I started but very different than the other three,” My mom is someone whom I know I to work with kids. She was so impactful my mom said, “and I had a very good can always count on. to me.” relationship with my parents.”

She has a smile on her face no matter The beginning of my mom working My mom said her family helped shape with children began when my parents how stressful her day was – every time – her into the person she is today. Right and I admire that about her. came back to Michigan to start a family.

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dedicated doctor

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Father shows persistence in balanced lifestyle To me, what makes a person so interesting is his or her dedication to keeping himself and those who surround him healthy.

Having a demanding job often requires this dedication, and it can be clearly seen in my father, Chris Eyke.

My father wanted to become a docJack tor since his Eyke childhood, and ever since 2002, he has been working as an orthopaedic spine surgeon.

After his fellowship, he worked at Tulane Hospital in New Orleans, and in 2003, moved back to his hometown of Muskegon to work for the Orthopaedic Associates of Muskegon.

To get where he is now, a lot of time was spent in education.

Where most people spend four years in undergrad and then sometime after in grad school, my dad spent 10 years after undergrad preparing to become a surgeon.

He started at the University of Michigan for medical school and then a one-year orthopaedic spine surgery internship at Tulane University (in New Orleans).

After that, he did a fouryear residency in orthopaedic spine surgery and then a fellowship in spine surgery.

This dedication to his career is one thing I appreciate about him.

I am often in awe of the

keeps him moving forward, something many people lack.

I owe a lot to my father for what he has done to keep my family alive and well while holding the lives of others in his hands.

There are highs and lows of every job.

“Honestly, what I enjoy the most about my job is when people say thank you,” he said. “Not a lot of people say thank you, and I wish more would. What I enjoy the least about my job is the stress in having another person’s well being in your hands.”

One thing I really appreciate about my dad is his passion for his hobbies. In his free time, he likes to go fishing, exercise, travel, and play the guitar. All of these activities and his job make him the Chris Eyke, a local orthopaedic surgeon who loves fishing, has well-rounded man I love. found a way to balance his career along with family and hobHis talents amaze me, bies. His son, senior Jack Eyke, admires him for his dedication. especially when I take into amount of time he spent purWhen some people think consideration his hectic suing his career after college. about becoming a doctor, schedule.

With that amount of they think about making a lot The dedication I see that he schooling, there were many of money; however, in my puts into work can be found difficulties. father’s case, he’s not in it for in the hobbies he does in his “Sacrificing my personal the money. free time. life (was the hardest part of “It does not matter how His guitar skills or fly the process),” my dad said. much money you make,” my fishing techniques are incred“I barely had any free time or dad said. “That won’t make ibly cool and require much saw friends and family.” you happy.” practice time, a lot of which Looking back, spending I am appreciative that he he doesn’t have. so much time and dedicating has that mindset, and I’m glad Chris Eyke is an incredibly a decade of his life preparing he has set an example for my hard-working man who has to become a surgeon was all siblings and me. endured years and years of edworth it. Many benefits have Not only does my dad have ucation in order to get where come out of his hard work and to take care of his patients and he is now. effort. maintain their wellbeing, but I admire his dedication to “(My education) has given he also has a family to take everything in his life, making me a very specific skill set care of. These duties often him a very inspiring person that many other people do not prove to be very stressful whom I like to model myself have,” he said. for him, but his resilience after.

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4

one in a million

Older brother embodies title of role model Few people are lucky enough, during their lifetime, to meet someone who truly inspires them, who instigates a spark of wonder that is so precious it is saved only for the most worthy of humankind.

I am one of the few, for it was during the evening of Nov. 5, 1997, that I was fortunate enough to be greeted by such an individual. The day I was born.

Jordan Peterson is his name, and Jordan Peterson is my older brother.

Jennifer There are an infinite Peterson number of characteristics my brother embodies which make him a man deserving of the title “role model,” but as a girl who appreciates the art of writing and the creativity of storytelling, it is these attributes that continue to prompt admiration.

From the moment he discovered the necessity of a career, Jordan has wanted to be employed in the movie industry.

“I am a visual learner and love stories more than anything,” Jordan said.

“Movies are a way to visually experience stories that take you places and give you experiences you wouldn’t otherwise have in life.”

More specifically, Jordan has clarified that it is the prospect of writing screenplays and producing film criticisms that interest him most.

“I enjoy writing because it allows me to escape from my current reality and to create a new one,” Jordan said. “It also allows me to express myself without being judged, at least until I show it to someone.”

To put his passion into practice, Jordan regularly composes movie reviews on the latest films. There remains no question, after reading these witty yet insightful pieces of commentary, that this man of only 22 has acquired a talent for writing.

Jordan has even been offered the op-

Shores graduate Jordan Peterson, the older brother of senior Jennifer Peterson, is one in a million to his sister. portunity to work with a local magazine called West Michigan Plus, a new publication that is unique to his hometown of Muskegon; but despite his obvious knack for creative writing, Jordan’s ultimate goal for the future is to someday put into work a comic book or movie centered around Batman.

“Batman is a role model for me, as silly as that is because he isn’t real and dresses like a bat to fight crime,” Jordan said. “But he has a code, and he lives by it. He doesn’t allow himself to go beyond that code because he has super discipline.

I think discipline is important, and that’s why he is a role model for me.”

My brother’s appeal toward the Batman character is not only apparent in his words as he practically professes his love for the fictional hero but can also be seen evident in virtually every other aspect of his life.

The car that Jordan drives, for example, can reasonably be referred to as the Batmobile in attribution to its seat and steering wheel covers which proudly display the Bat Symbol.

This carefree, and slightly nerdy, attitude is one that Jordan is most known for and formulates the approachable and lovable person everybody knows him to be.

But above all, Jordan is kind; and he has been approached by, and praised by, many people who agree with such a statement.

“That’s what I would consider my biggest accomplishment because those recognitions will stay with and motivate me forever,” Jordan said.

However, with this kindness comes a deeper understanding of others and of empathy toward situations he may never have experienced. In part, this is why Jordan is so good at, and greatly enjoys, getting into the heads of different characters, allowing for a multitude of perspectives to make themselves known.

This tolerant way of thinking is a distinctive quality that my brother holds and is apparent in all that he does. Never will the world know a man who is more agreeable and accepting as he.

“My advice (to others) would be to keep an open mind,” Jordan said. “It can be tough, but no one person is right all the time; and if you think you are, then you’re a danger to yourself and the world around you.”

There is no doubt that the world with Jordan Peterson is not at all endangered, but in fact, it is a better place, for human beings such as him are simply one in a million.

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hopeful journey

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Father searches for, meets biological parents Around the world, there are numerous children who become adopted into a loving family each day.

For every child who is up for adoption, the circumstance can vary from the most simple reason to the extreme.

Those who find out they are adopted may have questions they Kina ask themGrotenhuis selves about why they were put up for adoption and might try to find answers of their past.

Finding birth parents of an adopted child may take up to several years to have personal contact or even via phone.

This is a big step for the child to take for his biological parents could reject his request to talk or meet with him.

The outcome can be positive or negative.

Frank Grotenhuis, like his own daughter (senior Kina GrotenMy dad, Frank Grotenhuis, huis), was adopted at a young age but eventually began a relawho was adopted, sought out tionship with his birth parents. to find his birth parents.

I look up to my dad beadopted me after they adopted picking out every detail that cause, like him, I am adopted my older sister, Judy, from the makes him different from his and hope to find my birth same agency. ” family. parents in the future.

Being adopted, one might But even though the physAlthough the outcome is a often feel different than other ical differences are easy to mystery, it creates a sense of children about how they feel point out from his parents, he desire in me to find history of about their parents and how did not focus on his differencmy past. Just like it has with they view life, but being ades from his family. my dad. opted did not hinder how my Later in life, he wanted to My dad was born and addad thought and viewed life. find answers about his past opted in Grand Rapids when “I always wondered why and began to search for his he was about 6 months old.

I was adopted, but I never parents.

“As young as I can redwelled on it,” he said.

“When I was 36, I did member, I knew that I was Depending on the pera search to find them,” my adopted,” my dad said. “I did son and his situation, it can dad said. “I had to contact not have the same features as distract an individual from the agency from where I was my parents had. My parents living his life by focusing and adopted and had to get the

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information from them. The first time I had contact with my birth parents was on the phone, but it took about a year to have personal contact with them. ” Having this big step in his life caused him to feel both nervous and excited.

When meeting with his birth parents, he found the reason about why he was put into the adoption agency.

“My birth mom, Karen Moreau, was not married when she became pregnant with me, and back then, putting a child up for adoption was a common thing,” my dad said. “She was single, and the father was married.”

Hearing the reason behind his adoption, he still stays in contact with his birth mom and his step-father, who live in Eaton Rapids. He said they talk about once a month via phone and two or three times a year in person.

After hearing the “why” of the past, it would give me a sense of relief if I do find my biological parents. It would create a new bond between my birth parents and a better understanding with my own parents knowing the situation.

From his birth parents, he has three other brothers whom he stays in contact with also either by phone or Facebook.

In my dad’s adoption story of how he found his birth parents, I admire him in how he had the interest and dedication to find his birth parents, and I hope to find mine in the future despite the possible outcomes that may happen.

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to serve & protect

Sheriff’s deputy proves there are good cops Most people don’t know who will arrive when they dial 911 and need a police officer. Will it be a good cop or a bad cop?

Lately, because of negative news in the media, some people have even begun to fear the first responders to their cries for help.

Isaac However, I’ve lived Cathey with a police officer for most of my life, and I’m proud to call him Dad. It seems like people forget that police officers are just like everyone else.

For my father, it began in Detroit, where he was born in 1972.

“Back then, [the area of] Detroit where we lived was a lot like Muskegon,” said Daimion, my dad. “It was bad when you went to bad spots but good in most others.”

He seemed to have an average life growing up. He went to school and played games just like every other kid his age. But he noticed the crime in the city, and it “planted a seed” in him.

He said he believed that he could change things, and the best way to do so would be to become a police officer.

When he was 9, the family moved across the state to Muskegon, where he attended and graduated from Mona Shores.

When he walked out of the graduation ceremony, he said he knew what he wanted to do: be a police officer; however, not everyone agreed with his ideas.

“It was suggested I look into other [occupations], not to lock myself in because ‘you’re only 18. You’re not quite sure what you want to do,’” my dad said.

He stuck it out, however, and continued on, determined to become an officer of the law. He went to college at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. and attended it with a mission in mind.

Eventually, my dad graduated from Ball State and moved back to Muskegon in search of a job. He was employed first

For the past 15 years, Daimion Cathey has been a police officer, most recently with the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Department. His son, senior Isaac Cathey, admires his father who serves and protects everyone. at the City of Muskegon Sheriff’s office, then the County Sheriff. He’s worked in law enforcement for more than 15 years.

In those 15 years, my dad, who is 44 and a deputy with the Muskegon County Sheriff’s department, has seen it all. “(One time), I was on a call, broad daylight, and this lady broadsided me while I was in the police car with my lights and sirens going,” my dad said.

“Said she just didn’t see me.”

He encountered quite possibly the most distracted driver in the county, and that was just the first of his stories.

Another time he broke his forearm on a call, but it was not because he was fighting or anything. He was serving a warrant when the suspect ran.

“I was going to push him down, and I stepped off the curb and hyperextended my knee back the wrong way, fell, did a tuck and roll, looked kinda sci-fi, action movie-ish -- in my head anyway,” my dad said. “It probably looked more like a big pile of potatoes. I popped back up, and my arm hurt, but I didn’t even know I broke it.”

At this point, my dad is used to injuries on duty. He was once even incapacitated by a hypothermic man (who passed out from the cold and tore my dad’s rotator cuff). He’s run the gamut of freak injuries while on the job.

But, of course, he saved his best story for last.

“The craziest call was ‘the Black Jesus,’” my dad said. “This dude was high on… I think crack. And he wasn’t letting anybody take him into custody because he was ‘Black Jesus.’ He kept screaming ‘I’m Black Jesus. You can’t take me to jail!’ So we finally got him into custody, got him in the car, and he kicked out a window. So our command officer pepper sprayed him, and he stopped being ‘Black Jesus’ real quick.”

His stories always end in a laugh, and he tries to downplay the danger of his job because he accepts that as normal.

“Of course, you have guns pointed at you and stuff… but that’s just part of the job,” he said.

Police officers are people who decide to go to work for the good of the community to keep the people around them safe.

My dad is one of those people, a pretty ordinary man who made a decision to pursue a career in law enforcement.

He works everyday to “Serve and Protect,” and I have infinite admiration for him because of that. Not only does he work as a police officer serving all of Muskegon County but also as a security guard at Baker College of Muskegon – a job much calmer than his occupation at the Sheriff’s department.

One thing I can say for certain though, is that if you dial 911 and my dad arrives at your door, you can be confident that a good cop has arrived.

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Future influence

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Parents make career, education important Ever since I can remember, my parents have had a large influence on me and my actions and behaviors.

Some people, however, don’t know the story of their parents before they became parents, mostly because they do not care enough or they decline to discuss it.

I, however, was fortunate enough to be told their Sam background; and knowing Bondy this background better helped me understand how I came to be and how my interests and future goals were created.

My mom, Sonda Panici Bondy, has always been the supportive type, in most cases anyway. For example, she, at first, did not like my interest in Airsoft and the want to buy guns, but she does her best to encourage me because it is something that I am interested in.

The highlight of her parenting, as it appears to me, is her ability to stay on me about my schoolwork and getting a job.

This seems to stem from her childhood.

“My dad always told me to work hard and do my best, and he would be proud of me,” my mom said.

Of course, these are the things that she has instilled in me.

Like many people growing up, she did not know where she wanted to go to college, but my mom did know what she wanted to study. Similar to my mom, I know I want to study mechanical engineering, but it was difficult to know what college would be right for me or what was affordable.

“I wanted to study travel and tourism management, which is research about why people travel to where they travel to,” my mom said. “I like asking questions and wanted to know why people went where they went.”

After touring Michigan State’s campus, my mom decided that’s where she wanted to go to school. When it came to

Jeff and Sonda Bondy have impressed the importance of education and career success upon their son, senior Sam Bondy. getting a job, she wanted what she was studying to be a big part of what she did.

“I started my career in market research, which is what I studied to do, so I knew I was on the right track,” my mom said.

Jobs seemed to have come easy to her, but finding the right one proved to be a challenge. She went through eight jobs before she found the one that fit her area of expertise. Starting out of college, she worked at Kennedy Research, MasterTag, North Muskegon Schools, Aflac, Harding Energy, Michigan Steel, Gerber, and currently Borns.

However, love swayed her to change positions.

“When I met (my husband) Jeff and we decided to get married, I decided I wanted to change jobs because I was driving an hour to work everyday, and I was losing all that time with him,” my mom said. “I switched jobs so I could be closer to him, but I still performed the same tasks at the new job, just in a more convenient location.”

My father, Jeff Bondy, has had an equal effect on me as my mom has. My dad is part of the reason I want to pursue the engineering field, and he received his

influence from his family.

“My older brothers were all engineers, so I felt like I had to be one too, and I made that decision at the end of high school,” my dad said.

After being accepted to Western Michigan University, the choice was made to stay in west Michigan after he graduated.

“It was a little scary at first, but I did know quite a few people in high school that were from Muskegon, and they said that I would really like it,” my dad said.

“My sister-in-law, Jodi, also has family in Grand Haven and said it was a really nice area.”

Though his job was in Whitehall, my mom would not move to Whitehall, so they lived together in Muskegon.

Often when I was younger, my dad would show me the things he was making at work. My favorite part is when he would bring home something for my sister and me that he had 3D printed.

Seeing the cool things he was capable of sparked my interest in engineering.

My career path is aimed toward mechanical engineering, and while my dad is a project engineer, part of me was curious if he wanted me to follow his footsteps.

“Yeah, there was a little part of me that wanted you to do what I do, I suppose,” my dad said. “Then, it would be easier to help you, but it wasn’t necessary that you had to.”

Both of my parents have had equal effects on my life and how I go about my future. My dad steered me toward an interest in engineering, and my mom makes sure I am taking the proper path to get there.

Through both of their experiences with work and school, I know I can trust their advice.

Looking back at my actions, I can point out specific areas where my parents’ influence has made its mark.

Though there are some good and some bad, I am thankful of all their dust that has rubbed off on me.

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becoming real

Alumnae embodies balance in being human Some people spend decades trying to settle into themselves, but not all of them ever get there.

At 24 years old, Shores graduate Hannah Rouwhorst exercises this characteristic with grace and light. Hannah is one of a small handful of truly real human beings I have ever Chloe encountered.

Grigsby “Being real is an uncomfortable process,” Hannah said. “I believe the people closest are those that are up for the challenge that exists within the question: what is your ‘real’? That’s the journey, the work that needs to be put in. Is it authenticity?

Stability? Passion? Money?

Innovation? The realest people I know are ones that have managed to drop the expectation that they should know and enlist on a never ending journey toward answering that question. It’s this fluidity that cultivates and sustains critical thinking – the main component to finding that truth. They are present. That is what they emulate. They are critical thinkers, and they are present.”

Hannah encapsulates the idea of centering one’s energy in the way someone who has become real would – a way that utilizes intention which allots for the most growth.

Her life mantra is, “Do everything with intention.”

What is inspiring about Hannah is she has lived out

Hannah Rouwhorst, a 2010 graduate of Shores, has adopted the mantra, “Do everything with intention,” into her life. And senior Chloe Grigsby welcomes that outlook. this mantra.

Upon graduating from Shores in 2010, she knew the conventional path of a fouryear university wasn’t for her.

She understood the importance of advancing herself and growing while not in school, and it is this understanding that led her to Italy to participate in Willing Workers on Organic Farms (WWOF), a program that is a centralized labor/cultural exchange in

countries all over the world.

The WWOF served as a connecting vehicle, where Hannah and her close friend Lauren Abdelkader paid $50 and got on a plane to farm hazelnuts in Italy for a few weeks in exchange for a place to live, food, and a cultural immersion opportunity in its rawest form.

However, Hannah addressed that every WWOF experience is different.

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Following their time with hazelnuts in Sicily, they went north to work on a vineyard.

Upon arrival, their host informed them that there was no work for them but offered to connect them with the English teacher at the man’s high school of which he was employed.

They accepted the invitation with open arms, armed for the next adventure with Continued on page 19

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Alumnae embodies balance in being human Continued from page 18 bright eyes and warm hearts.

Hannah said, “It was the most memorable experience of WWOFing – I love teaching. An amazing sensation came from it – the trust there and what that means.”

The microcosm of traveling was revealed to Hannah through WWOF; it’s the concept that one starts off with one expectation and leaves with a completely different experience. It’s apparent in travel but relevant to life in general.

Hannah discusses that any time a person makes a decision, it’s imperative to understand that this intention has been set, but once one goes off and executes, everything will change and that the learning comes from embracing that change.

“It will never always be what you thought it would,” Hannah said. “You improve, of course; the gap closes between expectation and actuality. You get somewhere and quickly analyze the situation and regroup. It’s vital to sustain that flexibility.”

Lauren and Hannah got stuck whenever they closed their minds to a set expectation while with WWOF. There is a balance between planning and the openness that it takes to execute said plan, “It is important to be prepared, but imperative to think on your feet and ditch the plan when new factors come into play.”

The raw cultural experiences in Italy taught these two travelers this concept of expecta-

One way Hannah Rouwhorst (right) has balanced her life is by teaching, such as students through the program City Year. tion versus reality quickly in regards to humanity, culture, and linguistic barriers.

Because of the ability to be flexible, one is able to make new plans and find balance.

In Hannah’s words, “Make the plan but drop the expectation.”

In addition to this balance of perception, Lauren has said to Hannah, “There are things that you want to do, things that you should do, and things that you need to do.”

The key is realizing that all of these things are all equally important. The three things need to remain balanced, and Hannah admits that when one falls out of line, her whole world crumbles. When this happens, one’s purpose essentially falls apart. It’s vital to notice at what time in life one must skip or not skip on

what he or she wants, should, or needs to do; what we center our energy around and why we do it is perhaps our largest obligation as people.

Hannah was lucky in the sense that her WWOF experience wasn’t confined to simply agriculture – that it seemed to cover the whole spectrum.

She continued covering the spectrum and adding to her tool belt by being a member of City Year, a non-profit organization where young adults teach students in inner-city schools across America to bridge the disconnect between underserved communities and the support of students.

Hannah’s “tool belt” metaphor encapsulates her decision making process. Living parallel to her life mantra of intention, she makes note

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that it is her community that moves her forward, “My lifelong teachers will always be the things I do and the people I surround myself with – I put myself next to them so I can learn from them. I identify things I need to work on and find people that are good at them.”

Hannah acknowledged that she connects most with people who have figured out something she’s still working on.

What validates Hannah’s old soul is that she discovered at a young age that there is something we can learn from everyone – whether how to be or how not to be.

She says, “Collect the data… Listen to every voice earnestly, consider everything that’s put out, but stay critical with what you keep.”

When I see Hannah, I see light.

When she talks, I hear humility weaved within an experienced and wise humanity.

Hannah is a paramount definition of what it is to just do love in your life. She is real in admitting she is still finding her way, and that in itself is a testament to life for many.

There’s a balance necessary to become real. Maybe realizing we are on the balance beam is half the battle. The idea is plan, let go, change, grow, have intention – keep filling the toolbelt so you can cross any beam you ever face with some component of grace.

We are all simply finding our way. Onward.

10

MOther knows best

People drawn to late mother for kindness Anyone who has ever seen my family knows I’m the spitting image of my father.

Anyone who has ever met my family, however, knows that my personality is like my mother.

In the years since her passing, I have grown to truly appreciate the weight behind Kaitlin a statement Hermanson like that.

For the first 14 years of my life, I was fortunate enough to have been able to learn from the greatest woman I’ll ever know -- my mom, Kelly Hermanson.

When she passed away from cancer in the fall of 2012, I lost not only my greatest role model but a woman who had a love of life and people, a love greater than any the world has ever known.

She was brilliantly beautiful, not just because of her radiant smile or infectious laugh, but because the way she loved others made it impossible not to see and feel the beauty inside her.

She had a light in her eyes and a spark in her heart that could put any fireworks show to shame. No matter how tired she was, how sick she got, how many relentless rounds of chemo she went through, or how unforgiving the cancer was on her body, that spark inside remained until the very end.

Most memories I have of my mother are beautiful ones: gardening in the summers,

Kelly Hermanson, who passed away in 2012, is known for her kindness, which is something that she passed down to her daughter, junior Kaitlin Hermanson. napping in the backyard hammock, spending the day at the beach.

We rarely fought, and that’s simply because she was an easy person to get along with. My mom had the ability to befriend anyone and everyone because people were drawn to her kindness and compassion.

Her love wasn’t always one of grand gestures.

I remember being young and coloring with her on rainy days. She was much more artistic than anyone I knew, much less myself. Nonetheless, she would swap pages in the coloring book back and forth as many times as I liked, because, “Momma, your page is just easier to color.” She would laugh and resign, just to make me smile.

I always received the last orange popsicle, despite it be-

ing her favorite flavor because it was my favorite too.

She would always move worms in the garden for me when I was too afraid of them myself.

Among other garden creatures I despised was the roly-poly, which was her favorite bug simply because “Nobody else loves him, and I think he deserves somebody to stick up for him.”

Spiders, on the other hand, neither of us would touch.

To me, it was these small acts of kindness that showed the greatest insight into her character, and the memories I will cherish the most.

Ever since I can remember, my mom was dedicated to putting others before herself. We were always the last to leave family reunions or parties with friends because she always insisted on staying

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to help clean with the host.

“She was the first person to offer a helping hand to anyone in need, and if that meant staying hours after everyone else had left, so be it,” my grandmother said.

This kindness extended far outside of the home. For more than 15 years, my mother worked for Pioneer Resources, a nonprofit organization focused on providing opportunities for people with disabilities.

One of the special needs women she worked with was named Rosie, who outside of work didn’t have a strong support system and faced numerous challenges in her home life.

My mother regularly went out of her way to provide food, clothing, and other necessities at her own expense when Rosie couldn’t do it on her own.

“Your mom started working with Rosie early in her career. Every time she was promoted or moved locations, Rosie would find a way to transfer so that she could continue to work with your mom,” my grandma said.

“She had a special way with special needs people, and they really connected. Your mom had a way of understanding her that other people did not.

It was beautiful.”

I spent countless hours on the seventh floor of the terrace plaza working with my mother and Rosie and witnessed a bond between the two of them unlike any I had ever seen.

Continued on page 15

taking a risk

11

Young educator influences struggling students Believing in one’s own abilities is the first step toward success. This is especially true when it comes to education.

Aaron Santa Maria is Shores’ AtRisk Coordinator, and his job’s various responsibilities all aim to build students’ confidence and, in turn, their grades.

“This job has allowed me to see education in a different light,” he said.

“When I was in high school, I liked it. Granted, Steffen I was pretty much an all-A Newman student, and I thought school was easy. I never could understand why some kids didn’t like school.

This job has helped me realize that there are a lot of outside factors that determine the quality of a kid’s education.”

While not many have heard of the At-Risk Coordinator, much less know of its impact, Santa Maria is one who is making a difference.

One student said, “He’s given me a positive outlook on school and how important it is to ask for and get help, whether it’s a tutor or anyone that’s able to help me excel more in my classes.”

Santa Maria was initially hired as a long-term sub at Shores during the 2014-15 school year. After graduating from Grand Valley State University in December of 2014, he received a call 10 days later to teach World History and AP World History for the remainder for the school year.

However, after that teaching position disappeared, he was converted into the new At-Risk Coordinator. The change was a big shift.

“I liked being in the classroom, a lot,” he said. “This year is a little different.

Besides the recent scheduling lecture I gave to high school classes throughout the past weeks, I haven’t been in the classroom at all.”

Not being in the classroom everyday, Santa Maria said, makes it difficult to

The At-Risk Coordinator at Shores, Aaron Santa Maria has various responsibilities, including helping those who are underperforming. Junior Steffen Newman respects his efforts. build relationships.

“In the classroom, you’re able to learn so much more about the student,” he said.

“You aren’t able to build much of a relationship with a kid by only meeting with them in my office a few times.”

Despite this downside, Santa Maria has been able to appreciate his new position for various reasons, including his positive impact on students.

“This job is overwhelming,” he said.

“I’m running the after-school tutoring program, I’m the adviser for the CloseUp club, I’m online conferencing, I’m helping with scheduling, and I meet with students who need help with grades, setting up parent-administrator meetings, and breaking down statistical analysis of our students. It’s shown me really how far I can push myself.”

Santa Maria, each day, deals with kids whose high school careers are in danger.

“There are kids who are falling or failing in our school,” he said. “Typically, these kids have never had help or support when it comes to their schoolwork.”

His job is to show them support and

teach them skills to succeed in the classroom.

“He’s always trying to push me,” the same student said. “Even when I’m staying after school and working hard on studying, I might still get bad grades.

He’s encouraged me to keep my head up and keep pushing, and this makes me believe it’ll get better.”

Being able to show this support brings Santa Maria satisfaction.

“Knowing that I was able to find them and support them, something that they may not have felt before – that feels good to me,” he said.

Santa Maria could be the difference in one student’s ability to pass to the next grade. That is a lot of pressure. To be driven to combat this pressure is, in my eyes, admirable.

“I’ve never been a quitter, and my biggest fear is failure,” he said. “My biggest fear is having my kids fail. When they pass their classes, I’m happy. I don’t ask for A’s, I don’t ask for B’s. I just want my kids to do their best and pass their classes. Even things like moving a grade from 10 percent to a 50 percent is a good deal, seeing that progress makes me proud.”

Having this position has taught Santa Maria a lot about not only himself but also education as a whole.

“I’ve learned really how much behind the scenes things go on at school that the average student does not know about,” he said. “It’s crazy to see what some kids are walking around with emotionally. When I look back on my teenage years and realize how easy I had it, it makes me wonder how some of these kids are able to handle it all.”

The fact that some of these kids have a rough home life makes Santa Maria’s job and mentality that much more admirable.

I hope my occupation allows me to help people as his does. Helping these students believe in what they can achieve is overwhelmingly important and can make a difference in each of their lives.

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12

Moving closer

Coast Guard veteran emphasizes family Fifteen different cities.

That is how many places that my grandpa, “Papa,” has been stationed while serving in the United States Coast Guard.

Out of those 15 different locations, Muskegon was the final destination for the Council family and where I am lucky to call Katie home.

Schouten Without being in the Coast Guard, my family would not be the family it is today. He led his family to our hometown.

Leroy Council, or as I call him, “Papa,” was born in Shreveport, La., on May 25, 1942. In 1962, my grandpa went to the recruiter’s office to sign up for the military. “(The Coast Guard) was the only recruiters open that day,” my grandpa said. “I had barely heard of the Coast Guard before, so I wasn’t familiar with it. I wanted to join the Navy, but they were closed for some reason.”

My grandpa, instead, enlisted in the United States Coast Guard where he would make a career out of that for more than 22 years.

In 1964, Papa eloped with my grandma, Carolyn, and had their first child, Becky, in 1965.

Due to being in the Coast Guard, my grandpa and his family were subjected to constantly moving around the United States.

“We moved a lot,” my

After moving to 15 different cities due to being in the Coast Guard, Leroy Council (right) taught his granddaughter, senior Katie Schouten (left), and her family how important it is to be close to one’s family. grandpa said. “We met a lot of linda and uncle Robert were different people, and we got to born. see a lot of the country.”

After the break, my grandI give credit to grandpa and pa was stationed Natchez, his family because I could not Miss., where his family would have been able to move so settle near there. much. I have lived in the same Natchez was where my house and gone to the same other uncle, Michael, was school district my entire life. born, and that is where my My grandpa went to Cape grandpa enjoyed living the May, N.J.; New Orleans; most.

Brownsville and Port Isabel, “I liked the location, Texas; and Elizabeth City, weather, climate, and people,” N.C., alone. my grandpa said. “The Coast My grandpa then took my Guard there was more famigrandma and aunt Becky to ly-orientated. It was a small Staten Island and North Point unit with only six of us.”

Long Island, N.Y., and StratHe also mentioned that my ford, Conn. grandmother liked it there beAfter living in Stratford, cause it was only three hours my grandpa decided to move away from their hometown, back to Shreveport in order to Shreveport. However, Natchez continue his family. During was not where my grandpa the seven years out of the decided to settle.

Coast Guard, my mom BeFamily is something that

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has always been important to me and everyone in my family. I believe that it was my grandpa being in the Coast Guard and moving all around the country that made me realize how important it is to be close to my family.

He was then stationed at Keokuk, Iowa, and St. Paul, Minn., before he finally was located to the Muskegon Coast Guard in 1979. “(My initial thought of Muskegon was) ‘where are we at?’” my grandpa said. “It was a lot smaller than I thought it was going to be.”

Yet, he and his family started to enjoy the town more, and he even requested to be stationed at the Grand Haven Coast Guard after Muskegon so his family could stay in the same place.

After six years of living in Muskegon, my grandpa moved twice more to St. Louis, Mo., and Governors Island, N.Y.; however, my aunt and mom stayed behind in Muskegon, and my grandma moved to back to Muskegon after St. Louis in order to purchase their current house.

My grandpa’s children were starting families in Muskegon, so he and my grandma decided to retire to there.

“We kind of got to liking this place [Muskegon],” my grandpa said. “It kind of wears into you after awhile.”

If my grandpa had not joined the Coast Guard, then my family would not be who it is and where we are today, and that is why my grandpa is a very important person to me.

never stop reaching

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Aunt inspires by persevering through obstacles Inspiration is a broad concept that is made up of important individuals. Someone who inspires me greatly is my aunt.

She is a consummate role model for her children, her family, and anybody who encounters her.

For more than 41 years, my aunt, Ann Judson, has lived different lifestyles and has gotten past several obstacles that helped her grow into who she is today. Her 9-yearold son would say she’s nice and adventurous, and Kennedy I would add free-spirited, Potts intelligent, and hardworking. In other words, she is an inspiration.

Having two older brothers and two younger brothers, my aunt is familiar with chaos.

“Growing up with four brothers in a lot of ways has made me who I am,” Ann said. “It has made me tough in some ways.”

While my grandparents showed her how to work hard, Ann noted they did not provide a strict structure for her to follow as a child, so when she went to college, she found the exact opposite.

“I had to figure out that there’s more than one way to live your life,” Ann said. “It was up to me to figure out what direction I wanted to go with my life. So, when I did meet this serious boyfriend in college, it was a different way of seeing the world. I didn’t really think about goals before I met him. He taught me structure, goals, focus, and organization.

Then, it turned into the marriage. Since it was the exact opposite of how I grew up, it was appealing to me.”

Shortly after being married to Shannon and having their first daughter, Paige, Ann said she was questioning the valuableness of all the control and structure.

“I didn’t know if all this control and structure was so good, but we were married by that time,” Ann said. “Then, we had Paige, and we were committed. I

born with. This caused, as Ann said, an ultimate loss of control.

“My reaction over the long term was thinking I don’t know if I need to be doing this anymore,” Ann said. “What I wanted and who I had become didn’t necessarily sit well with me. My husband was more so wanting to control our little world, and then as time went by, I started seeing that in our kids.”

Eventually, Ann said she realized she could not achieve what she wanted in the confines of her marriage.

“So, when I was young, I was very free spirited, and this really shifted into this different world in college,” Ann said.

“After all that, there was this slow process where this spirit from my childhood kind of bubbled up. I have always been a fiercely independent thinker. I always Ann Judson, the aunt of senior Kennedy think there are different ways to think Potts, has ventured out of her comfort and do things. I sadly felt like I wasn’t zone and tried ice climbing, among other going to accomplish being able to think freely in the confines of my marriage.” things.

So in 2013 Ann and Shannon diwas never one to just give up. You have vorced.

While Ann said this was a to stay committed. My parents did not difficult experience for her and her kids, always have the easiest marriage, and I she emphasized the positive effects that learned from that. I was not willing to it had. just bag it.”

“It was this phase of self discovery Then, Ann had her twin boys, Toby for me,” said Ann, who recently took a and Easton. Unfortunately, Easton was trip to go ice climbing at Pictured Rocks. born with a variety of special needs.

“Realizing I can do anything I want...

“Easton’s story, his birth, and his well within reason, like developing new condition represented such a twist in my friends and seeking out new adventures.” world,” Ann said. “I could no longer reAnother new adventure that Ann is ally have my own life. Having three kids contemplating is attending law school to take care of and one with such special to compliment her job in social work. needs caused me to forgot who I was. I To me, it is awe-inspiring to watch her was so focused on how to be a good mom continue to grow in places where most and wife. I did all those things to the best people have gone stagnant. of my ability. Having a child with that “Having a law degree could augment many needs made me feel like I needed my job and could give me a whole differmore control. This sent us on a road to ent way to do things and support people more control and being super-oriented and create a different role for myself,” into tasks and getting stuff done.”

Ann said and jokingly added. “Or maybe So for years, Ann put everything I’ll just be a tax attorney and make lots of into raising her children. Then, Easton money.” died at the age of two due to medical Continued on page 15 complications from the disorders he was

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14

Disguised Disease

2014 grad discovers answers to allergies Anyone who is friends with my sister, Katie Beemer, is aware that she has a plethora of allergies as she was diagnosed with 26 of them.

Not only did Katie have a multitude of allergies, she had to be extremely careful because some are life-threatening.

Ever since she was 8 Jenna months old Beemer and had her first bite of banana bread with walnuts, it was clear that something was wrong.

After 19 years of living with severe allergies, going to many doctors and identified as a simply an “unusual” case, it was quite a shock for Katie to be told differently on Jan. 19.

One afternoon at an allergy appointment, my sister found out that, instead of having 26 allergies, all of her symptoms pointed to mastocytosis, a cell disorder.

Instead of being told her allergy symptoms were “unusual,” now she was “textbook” for a disease.

Although most of the reactions are attributed to mastocytosis, she is still anaphylaxis to peanuts and allergic to other legumes like peas and beans.

“I was seemingly having an allergic reaction to everything,” Katie said. “I reassured myself that over Christmas break this year, I would figure out what was going on.”

Throughout her life, Katie

Katie Beemer (left), a 2014 graduate and sister of junior Jenna Bemmer (right), was diagnosed with 26 allergies; recently, she found out it was actually a cell disorder. kept looking for answers to had to find out what it was figure out the reason why she that was giving her so much would have random reactions trouble. to food that would wipe her Our family was always on out for the whole day. the hunt to find new foods she For her whole life, she was could eat, new therapies for told that these reactions were her to try and new theories simply food allergies, and to that could help discover the get better, she needed to simkey to improving her health. ply avoid the allergens. Even When her allergist suggestfollowing this strict diet, Katie ed mastocytosis could be the still got sick often. problem, it all made sense.

“I was making myself craYears of asthma, ear infeczy trying to find out what I am tions, hospitalization, anxiety, allergic to,” said Katie, a 2014 mood swings, and more were Shores grad. “I would be sick, all caused by this disease. disappointed, and nothing One of the many allergic seemed to be working. The reactions that she can have is only way to avoid reacting to reacting with anger. a food allergy is to avoid the Even though we are good food I am allergic to.” friends as well as sisters, I Frustrated by the lack of am often the most convenient a solution and feeling sick person around and receive the frequently, Katie knew she brunt of her anger.

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As much as I know it is not her talking but merely a reaction, it does not make it easier to deal with the emotions.

Unfortunately, all the doctors misdiagnosed her symptoms as food allergies, instead of mastocytosis.

Mastocytosis, a rare cell disorder, is when the mast cells in the body, the cells that give energy, fight infections, and heal wounds, are being produced in mass quantities.

Katie’s body can’t stop making more mast cells even when she does not need more of them.

“It is similar to when something is mass produced.

It usually ends up cheaply made and eventually breaks,” Katie said. “Likewise, my cells are unstable because there are so many of them, and with a trigger at any given moment, they can explode, releasing chemicals that make me sick.”

A trigger for the cells to explode can be a multitude of things. It could be a food that contains a lot of histamines, or it could be as odd as reacting to extreme temperatures.

Walking outside on a cold, snowy day or sitting in a hot tub are a few of the things that can trigger a reaction.

“As much as I would love a cure, a magic fix-all, all I have ever wanted is answers and an understanding of what I am dealing with,” Katie said.

“If I know what I am dealing with, even if there is no cure, it is infinitely better than not knowing at all. I am no longer Continued on page 15

Disguised Disease

15

2014 grad discovers answers to allergies Continued from page 14 treating the symptoms; I am directly treating the problem.”

As difficult as it to walk through this journey of looking for a solution and eventually uncovering the real problem, Katie has not had to walked this journey alone.

Our family, especially with the guidance of our mom, has supported her through this process.

“We have learned to never give up hope and be persistent looking for answers,” said Laurie Beemer, our mom.

“We have learned from other people and share our health experiences as well. We hope Katie’s story can help others.”

Although it is exciting to know that there is hope to improve Katie’s situation, the challenges of having mastocytosis are far from over.

“It is really hard to go to

parties,” Katie said. “For example, last night, I was at my church. They ordered pizza, and I can’t have pizza. Situations like this are common and uncomfortable. When people give me food, they are disappointed that I am unable to eat their food. It is hard that they are grumpy, upset, and insulted because all they wanted to do was help me but don’t realize that they are harming me.”

Not everything is bad though, on nights I need to stay up late to work on homework, I can count Katie in on staying up with me.

“I can get five hours of sleep at night, and no one can judge me for this choice,” Katie said. “Most normal people get between 8-9 hours of sleep a night. I always felt stressed that I was not sleeping as much as other people do and

Mother Knows Best Continued from page 10 They would sing and dance together while working, and my mom would listen intently as Rosie detailed the highs and lows of her day since she had seen my mother last.

The environment of positivity and compassion that my mom created provided a safe space for those around her and has inspired me to treat others with the same unconditional love I received during the short years we spent together.

It was this aspect of her that I most admired about my mother: that she saw it as her

responsibility to help others whenever she could.

Her unending kindness has touched countless people, and I feel blessed to have been one of them. That spark inside her that remained through even the most hopeless of times is still here, but I like to think it’s inside of me now.

As long as I have that, I will continue to try and live the way my mom did. No matter what, it is that spark that pulls me out of bed every morning and reminds me that she will always be with me in my heart.

that it must be unhealthy.

Now, I know that sleeping less is just a part of the disease.”

Feeling free to sleep less is not the only freedom that comes with knowledge.

“I have more options as far as food goes. I can eat salad at school without fear of a cross contamination and having a reaction, and I can use a toaster. It is a beautiful thing,” she said.

As a sister, I am thrilled that she has so many more opportunities with this new knowledge. Her limited diet will expand as the medicine works and it is not as scary as it was with allergies.

When it was thought that she had so many allergies simply touching something with the allergen and touching Katie could cause a serious reaction.

My family is excited that in the coming months, Katie will feel better and safer because she does not have to worry about cross contamination.

The diagnosis of the disease has given her freedom and relief to understand what is causing her symptoms and a plan of action to improve her health.

“Finding out about mastocytosis has given me peace of mind. My entire life has been justified,” Katie said.

“Everything that made me a weird allergy kid has a reason, and I understand it, and that information is priceless.”

The day Katie was diagnosed will be a date everyone in my family remembers as the day Katie’s life changed.

She now has direction and we could not be happier that she finally found the answers we all were looking for.

Never Stop Reaching Continued from page 13 Something I learned from my aunt was that it is important to never stop trying to grow.

“You don’t ever have to settle for being unhappy,” Ann said. “There is always an opportunity to do things to make you happy. There is not one way to live life, but a lot of us are raised to believe that there is. Keep your eyes wide open and enjoy the journey, so cliche, but so true. You have never fully arrived. There is always more out there. That will mean something different

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to everyone.”

When I asked her for her best piece of advice to offer to someone my age, she gave me a variety of useful chunks of information, but this was my favorite.

“Be curious, don’t go through life passively, and don’t be afraid to fail. You can always try again. You can always shift gears.”

I have been able to learn a lot about life from watching my family, and specifically, my aunt has shown so much resilience and perseverance which inspires me in my life.

16

I need a hero

Youth pastor resurrects student ministry “I’m just a step away I’m just a breath away Losin’ my faith today”

Those opening lines to Skillet’s song “Hero” not only represent the me of two years ago, but the represented entirety of the teenage generation at Forest Park Covenant Church. We all needed a hero.

We needed a hero to show us that we mattered to the church.

Aaron We needed a hero who Fongers wouldn’t abandon us in our greatest time of need.

We needed a hero who could rekindle our flames for Christ and the motivation to even go to church, which most of our youth were in desperate need of at the time.

In all reality, at least to me, it was the end of our youth program, and the end of my time in the Forest Park youth program.

Enter Justin Saxton.

My youth pastor at Forest Park Covenant Church on Henry Street has an interesting job when compared to the general stereotypes of a pastor.

Instead of a suit and tie and standing at the pulpit on Sunday mornings, Justin swaps out the traditional pastoral standards for a multitude of plaid shirts for every occasion and spends his weekdays taking people out for lunch and engaging in conversation with anyone who needs encouragement.

Even the occasional office work isn’t so bad when one has Nerf guns and candy stocked among the word of God and study materials.

Becoming a youth pastor wasn’t, however, Justin’s original plan for his life in those pivotal college years.

“I had gone into junior college wanting to become a graphic engineer,” said Justin while reflecting on his early life in

Justin Saxton, the youth pastor at Forest Park Covenant Church, has reinvigorated the teenagers, including senior Aaron Fongers.

Manteca, California. “I had always been super creative and into anything technological, so it seemed like an easy fit.”

While beginning his college career, Justin found himself volunteering at the local church he attended throughout his youth, now called Heartland Covenant, where he laid down the foundations that revitalized a nearly extinct youth ministry program.

“Growing up, I never really had a youth pastor,” Justin said. “The only one we really had when I was there got busted for hiring a hooker, so we really didn’t have anything after that. I felt like it was something important for the church that I could do as a volunteer, so I got together some people, had a lot of support, and was able to start something.”

From there, it seemed God decided to use Justin for other purposes.

He was approached by many people at his church who recognized his passion for the youth and suggested that he make it his career.

“At that point, I had no idea I could make a career out of youth ministry,” Justin said. “However, a lot of people

kept telling me to check into it, so I did.

Not many colleges offered it as a major or had a very developed program, but it was still there.”

Now, Justin had a choice to make. He could either choose to pursue his current graphic designing career or make the switch into youth ministry.

“I was really wondering what I wanted to do with my life,” Justin said. “I kept asking myself if it was worth it to me just to become a graphic designer and make a ton of money and be ‘happy’ or to pursue something God was now pulling at my heart with.”

After taking a while to pray and consider the options while consulting his parents, neither of whom went to college, Justin accepted the calling to youth ministry and transferred to North Park University in Chicago to begin studying for his new career.

“Ultimately, it came down to what God wanted me to do with my life,” Justin said. “It felt like the more fulfilling thing to do, so without even visiting the campus or having any idea what I was Continued on next page

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I need a hero

17

Youth pastor resurrects student ministry Continued from previous page getting into, I just did it. I trusted God. In the end, it was great. I had engaging and practical professors who spent time getting to know me, and I continued volunteer work at a church, as well as working in a ‘Big Brother’ program at a local drop-in shelter inside Chicago.”

After graduating, Justin began his ministry at a church in Kansas City, Mo., and moved from there into ministry in Chicago and Detroit before ending up at Forest Park in 2014, where, in my opinion, he faced the toughest challenge of his career.

Our youth program was pretty much dead at that point, as I briefly touched upon earlier, and I remember I was a sophomore in the youth program during this period of turmoil. Our last youth pastor left unexpectedly, and for almost a year after, we were in disarray.

We had no real structured leadership, and kids began to leave. There wasn’t any passion or fire for God left in us. We just felt kind of defeated and betrayed. I remember how reserved a lot of us, parents included, were when Justin came.

We didn’t want to get let down again.

“Who’s gonna fight for what’s right Who’s gonna help us survive We’re in the fight of our lives”

However, from the first night, I knew something was different about him. Justin came in with a smile on his face and was ready to introduce himself to anyone he saw.

He immediately began forging relationships with parents and students alike and spent time letting us get to know him while he listened to our struggles and complaints about how the youth ministry program was going.

He listened to what we had to say and began rebuilding the youth program, attempting to get students involved again while bringing a different spin on the

youth group setup that we hadn’t seen before.

“The best part about my job is, honestly, just conversing with people,” Justin said. “Good, honest conversations with people is the way I like to help show people God’s love and mercy for them and the plans He has for their lives.

That’s the goal for my ministry. I want to be able to connect with people, help them connect with others, and be able to help people create connections with God. It has never been about me. It’s about what God can do through me.”

Two years later, Justin has become a valuable member of the church staff and a trusted adviser to parents and students alike, and he has wholly undertaken the process to rebuild our youth group into the strength in both numbers and faith we have today.

He has put in a lot of time with our students and adults alike to gain trust and an understanding of what we desire for the future of our program, hopefully with him continuing to be at the helm.

Justin is a friend and a mentor to all, especially to someone like me, who is hoping to pursue youth ministry someday as a career.

“For anyone wanting to go into youth ministry, it’s a tough job nowadays,” Justin said. “I won’t lie. The world of church is changing, and ministry is going to be a hard profession. But don’t ignore God’s calling because of it. Adapt - that’s a big part of the job. You have to familiarize yourself with the world around you, because being a youth pastor is going to be different in every place. I encourage people who want to become youth pastors or go into ministry to evaluate themselves - their strengths, weaknesses, and where they are with God. Those are big things to consider.”

Today, Justin’s daily schedule is devoted to the people around him, and he lives out his love for God and others each and every day; taking students to lunch,

meeting with parents and other youth leaders, and studying to better himself are just a few of the ways he keeps busy.

In a world that devotes most of its time to what an individual can do for themselves, Justin has come into Muskegon to change the culture of love and God’s presence and is doing so in tremendous ways.

“Being a youth pastor can be an odd job,” Justin said. “At the end of the day you can’t really take home a tangible thing that you accomplished today, and that can be hard. In the end, though, you don’t really need the credit or affirmation from the outside world. The goal of my ministry is to show God’s love to others and help them form connections with Him and fellow believers. Watching my students grow and mature in their faith, and the community around me, that’s where I find the sense that I am fulfilling God’s plans for my life.”

If it wasn’t for the much needed arrival of Justin, both as a youth pastor and as a friend, I cannot honestly say that I would be the same man I am today. He arrived at a pivotal point in my life to remind me that I am loved by God and by others regardless of my shortcomings, and sparked the passion for helping others that turned into my receiving of God’s calling to go into youth ministry after high school.

Even though in the scheme of life, the two years I’ve spent with him may seem like only a little, I will forever be grateful for his passion, his influence, and most of all his friendship, as I prepare both my heart and my mind for the rest of my life.

“I need a hero Who’s gonna fight for the weak Who’s gonna make ‘em believe I need a hero I need a hero A hero’s gonna save me just in time.”

I think I found one.

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18

brotherly love

Older sibling teaches life lessons to others If I were to ask my parents if my older brother Jared is a good role model for me, they might be a little hesitant; if I were to ask my brother’s friends if he was a good role model, they would laugh at me.

However, I believe my brother to be my role model and someone to look up to and Joel learn from.

DeVoursney “I try to be a role model when I feel I can make a difference in someone’s life,” my older brother Jared DeVoursney said. “I look at myself as a role model to my younger siblings. This can be difficult because they are around me so much that they see the best and worst sides of me.”

Seven years separate my brother and me, and this age difference really helps me look up to him.

Since we are closer in age than most people’s role models are, it is easy to relate to him, and that is why I look up to him.

“During tough times, you have to keep your chin up and preserve through whatever adversity you are facing and keep working,” my brother said. ”It is important to take time to appreciate the little things you have and never take anything for granted.

This is how I try to live my life in order to be a role model.”

This quote explains how he has helped me through life.

Jared DeVoursney, a Shores graduate, is a role model to his younger brother, senior Joel DeVoursney.

Since Jared has gone through some of the things I am experiencing, he has really helped me through some of the more tougher situations I have been through.

His philosophy of “appreciating the little things” has also helped me to realize all the things my father has also provide for us to live a good life.

“A big influence/ role model for me is my dad because he has always been there to guide me through life,” my brother said. “I value his opinion and admire how hard

he has worked in order to give me and my siblings a life and opportunities that he may not have had growing up.”

I also look up to my father, but we do not have the connection like Jared and my dad do. I think that is why I look up to my brother more, because we really have a special connection through him teaching me life lessons and helping me through experience that he can relate to.

Just a couple months ago, I was in a serious car crash that was my fault. I was scared of how my father and mother

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would react, so the first person I called was my brother, and he said something that day that I will never forget.

“If you are ever in trouble call me because chances are I’ve done it or gone through it,” he said.

This really meant a lot to me and made me realized that I had an older brother that I can count on, and I have an older brother who allows me to learn from his mistakes too and not just my own. I have learned life lessons from him throughout my years that I am grateful for.

Foreign friends

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One Norwegian found a way into Sailor hearts Four months ago, I learned there was a new girl at our school from Norway. I had never held a conversation with her. I had never seen her. Yet, I knew what almost everyone else knew: she was an exchange student.

This instantly gave her an air of mystery.

It was only after we Leyanna realized that we had a Jordan-Brown mutual friend that our own friendship started growing. The past few months of friendship have ignited a new appreciation for each other and the knowledge that the world seems just a bit smaller with the right people next to you.

Angelica Eikeland’s journey across the Atlantic was prompted by her desire for a drastic change in order to break the monotony of her everyday life.

“I was honestly tired of my school, family, friends, just everything there and wanted a change. I have always loved to travel and see new things and experiences,” Angelica said.

Major changes come with their own set of difficulties that Angelica was not originally expecting, including host families “It was hard having young host parents as my first family because they were being more of my friends, and they weren’t able to see my perspective on the things that bothered me,” Angelica said.

“Now that I am switching host families again, it gets really hard to live out of a suitcase.”

As a YFU student, she is expected to attend school for the year in her host country, thus bringing in another major adjustment. In Norway, most schools adopt a more lenient class environment where students are expected to be responsible for their own success.

“School in Norway puts more responsibility on yourself,” Angelica said. “For example, here you have to stay in school, and there you are able to come and go

Angelica Eikeland, a Norwegian exchange student, has befriended many Sailor students, including senior Leyanna Jordan-Brown. as you please, and the teachers aren’t there to make sure that you do everything properly because that responsibility is on yourself. I think it prepares us for real life.”

Angelica said the American school system dedicates itself to a more handson approach with teachers and a stricter manner of running and maintaining behavioral and academic standards.

“As far as school, it is really hard to adjust to the American system,” Angelica said. “It seems hard to enjoy free time and make new experiences here when there is always some homework to be done. One of the benefits of the American system, though, is that I have learned to be a really hard worker.”

Although she has traveled to many different places, none have been as big of an adjustment as her current expedition; in fact, one of the major things that played a key role in a comfortable adjustment was the aid of her new American friends.

Many people were eager to know more about where she came from; however, not many were eager to get to know her for who she is.

When I first met Angelica, I was in-

trigued by her genuinely good spirit and carefree demeanor. Our shared wanderlust and similar personalities made us fast friends.

“I’ve actually had better friends here in America than I do back home,” Angelica said. “Here, people are generally more outgoing, and even on my first day, people were approaching me and asking about me. Back home, that would never happen. I opened myself up to more people and opportunities. I have been really lucky with the people I am around.”

My respect for this girl, whom our friend group affectionately calls “Norway,” is not one-sided. This experience has taught all of us about who we are and how we handle differences in culture, attitudes, and perception.

Though she believes she eventually landed in the right place, Australia was her first choice as she says, “I really wanted to go to Australia, but everyone wants to experience the American dream, and I’m actually very happy that I ended up here because I have an amazing group of friends and family.”

Angelica has taught me not only how to be a better friend but also what the foundation for friendship is in the first place. “...[friendship] is trusting and being trusted,” she said. “It’s about laughing and crying and being okay with sharing your sad or happy moments and knowing you are safe.”

In a few short months, Angelica will ship out to return to her native country and rejoin her family. And though I will lose an amazing friend, the connection we forged through our time together this past year is priceless.

“I love that I have someone my own age to appreciate me for the way that I am now,” Angelica said. “I would not be who I am today without you, our friends, and my amazing host family. I love you guys.”

We love you too “Norway.”

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