Published: August 31, 2008 10:47 pm         

Back to school

The time has come for the students of Goshen College to settle back in for another school year, and for many, it didn’t come a day too soon.

First-year students got their move-in orders early Saturday morning, while returning students battled the Sunday afternoon heat for their designated move-in times.

Kate Derstine, a senior from Pennsylvania majoring in business, said she is excited about getting the new school year started.

Classes at the college begin today at 7 p.m.

“As a senior, I’m taking a lot of classes just for my major, so I’ll get to take a lot of classes that I’m really interested in that are connected to my field,” Derstine said. “I’m also planning on working at Java Junction, the campus coffee shop. I was actually the manager there last year, so I’m looking forward to that as well.

“And of course I can’t wait to get back into choir,” she said.

As for what brought her to Goshen College in the first place, Derstine said it was pretty much a matter of tradition.

“I’m a Mennonite, and my parents and grandparents both went here,” Derstine said. “It’s funny, because I was actually not going to come here just because of that, but I decided to come check out the campus anyway and really felt at home with the community.

“It’s similar to what I’m used to at home, but far enough away that I can develop into my own person,” she said.

Jonathan Williams of Goshen is a sophomore at Goshen College with a double major in chemistry and physics.

For Williams, it was a combination of tradition and the international exposure available through the Goshen College experience that first drew him to the campus.

“Well first of all, my mom went here back in college,” Williams said. “I also really liked the liberal arts program offered here, and the SST program was a big sell for me as well.”

SST, or Study-Service Term, is a 13-week study-abroad program offered by Goshen College in which students are immersed in the language, customs, history and people of a chosen country.

“I’ll actually be going on SST this year to Nicaragua, so I’m really looking forward to that,” Williams said. “Other than that, it’ll just be business as usual, I guess.”

Williams did say that he was happy to be back in school at last.

“I worked all summer, and was outside all the time, so that kind of burned me out,” Williams said. “Now I’m looking forward to getting back into a routine.”

Mandy Richer, a sophomore from Illinois majoring in molecular biology, agreed.

“Oh, I’m glad to be back,” Richer said. “It’s definitely time to come back.”

However, Richer wasn’t too pleased about having to battle the nearly 90 degree heat while moving into her new dorm Sunday.

“I had to climb up three flights of stairs while moving all my stuff in,” Richar said with a laugh. “It’s definitely warm out here.”

Richer first learned of Goshen College through her Mennonite background, and said that out of the three Mennonite campuses she visited, Goshen College was the one that fit the best.

“I grew up Mennonite, and it’s a Mennonite school. There are like three to choose from, so I came to visit and really liked what I saw,” Richer said. “It wasn’t long after that I decided to come here.”

Richer said living in the Goshen area has taken some time to get used to, however, as it moves at a somewhat slower pace than her own hometown, located just west of Chicago.

“It has its good side and its bad side, but overall I like it,” Richer said. “I like the cute shops downtown, and I’m a big fan of the Brew. But where I’m from, everything is just like 15 minutes away, whereas here it often takes like 45 minutes to get anywhere. So it’s a little different than what I’m used to.”

As for getting to see all her school friends again, Richer said she can hardly wait to pick up where she left off last year.

“It’s so cool to see all my friends again. I haven’t seen them all summer,” Richer said. “It’s just really great to be back.”