The Odyssey

I love Theater. From the sweeping grand productions like the Chicago Lyric Opera’s “Porgie and Bess” (which featured one of our own Wheaton College students in a supporting role) to the antics of the Wheaton Improv team, my tastes are broad.

I guess it goes back to my first lead role as “Nancy” in the musical “Oliver Twist”. The black and pink parasol I carried on stage is still neatly tucked away in a trunk in my parent’s garage. It was further fed by a class on Shakespeare that I took as a freshmen when living in Germany. “Richard the Third” is my all time favorite. Or maybe my love stems from my sophomore year in high school when I was living in London. A week of going to productions such as the first rendition of “Children of a Lesser God” (before it became famous) and chatting with actors in a pub in Soho fed my interest. I regularly stood in line at Picadilly Circus to purchase half price tickets for West End productions. The following year, I can still remember catching a ride with my best friend, Percy, in his red convertible to a theater in downtown Lima, Peru for the last staging of a play where I was a spoiled Italian daughter. What made it so memorable was that I had pink foam curlers in my hair! Our Latin American hosts must have really wondered about the sanity of those foreigners. Percy (a Scottish Peruvian) later went on to become a stage manager in New York where he met and married Joan Collins (yes, she is 40 years older than him).

So, when the opportunity comes to enjoy theater right here on Wheaton’s campus, I am eager to be a part of it. Every year, I buy season tickets to the Arena Theater productions and treat my sister-in-law to three nights of imagination. This week’s production of the Greek epic poem, “The Odyssey”, was truly a journey to another world. The stage was, literally, a large sand box. I was sitting on the front row so, if I had dared, I could have taken off my shoes and rested them on the beach. Throughout the production, the sand flew about so often that I was glad for some chewing gum that kept me from coughing too much!

There are many things I love about Arena Theater productions at Wheaton College, not least the creative approach to storytelling.

“Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for year on end… Of these adventures, Muse, daughter of Zeus, tell us in our time. Lift the great song again.”

With these words, the drama began. For two wonderful hours, I was transported to the Mediterranean Ocean complete with gruff oars men, weathered ropes, and sandaled feet.
I watched as two young men and two young women became a Cyclops. One guy was seated on the shoulders of another and draped with a shroud. On their sides, the women each became one of the Cyclops’ arms. The darkened theater, allowed the miner’s light on the top guy’s head to be a perfect single eyeball. The Cyclops bit off the heads of two GI Joe type dolls to show his hunger for man flesh.

I listened as beautiful Sirens wailed at the Captain Odysseus and his crew. The Sirens were young women dressed in various outfits sporting the color red while they sang high pitched notes and tempted the men with all things woman while they sought to bring them to shipwreck.
I noticed the intricate Henna tattoo designs on the arms of the players - art that was crafted by an MK from Rwanda who is a freshman at Wheaton this year. As read the bulletin, I proudly noted a half a dozen or more of “my” Third Culture Kids who took part in the production.

I fairly cried when Odysseus was at long last reunited with his dear Penelope after 20 years of torment by the hand of Poseidon. There is nothing like returning home to those you love.
I love Theater. I love being transported to other worlds. I love seeing an ordinary college student transformed from an International Relations major to the goddess Athena. I even love shaking sand out of my shoes when I drive home.

The Prairie Path, Wheaton's Nature Escape

Posted by Lauren Pfister

The Illinois Prairie Path runs along Wheaton College's Southern border. It's 61 miles long, covers 3 counties, and has beautiful canopies of trees. But what I love about the Prairie Path is the people. This is where you see life pass by. At any time of day you can find a young, overambitious mom running with twins in a jogging stroller while holding her dog’s leash or a man in his 70’s who has been running this same path for…well, 70 years it seems. A bridge on the path goes over the Wheaton train station where you can watch hundreds of businessmen and women rushing home to their families from busy workdays in Chicago and as you run through the friendly downtown of Wheaton, you’ll see families enjoying Tate’s ice cream, little kids attempting to splash in the fountains, and store owners mingling with passersby.

The genesis of my own Prairie Path experience began when I arrived on campus as a freshman in 2004. I was excited to participate on the Cross Country team, yet overwhelmed as I met everyone-they were just SO NICE! Seniors and juniors introduced themselves; letting me know they were genuinely glad I was here and available if I ever needed anything. And on the first day of practice, after prayer and a brief team meeting, we headed off on our first run-to the Prairie Path of course. The first of hundreds for me. It is here that I laughed with teammates, talked with seniors about what they would do after college, had long runs to faraway places, did tempo runs and was visited by Coach Bradley on his bike asking how we were feeling each day. The Prairie Path is also where I walked with roommates discussing relationships, classes, and how much fun we had at the Wheaton 80s Roller Disco the night before. So whether it’s enjoying some self-reflection in God’s beautiful creation, significant conversations with friends, or exercising with some eclectic people, steps taken on the Prairie Path

Early Action Deadline is Nigh!

Posted by Henry Shuffle

Hello everyone! If you're not already aware, our Early Action deadline is NEXT TUESDAY! :) You've still got time to send in that application, and we look forward to receiving it. I've appended the tag "Admissions Process" to this post, so that you can link to other posts which have to do with applying and our advice about it. Hope that all is well with your college search!

Posted by Lauren Pfister

At Wheaton’s Panel discussion on “Art, Faith and Hospitality” last month, professors from Wheaton, Calvin and Seattle Pacific shared about the evolution of their work as artists after a Plowshares Institute trip to Indonesia. They explained the nature of their art prior to this experience and how this it helped them grapple with social justice, peace and reconciliation, and seeking to understand and communicate amidst globalization.

Jo-Ann Van Reeuwyk, Chair of Calvin’s art department, shared how weaving fibers, shaping flax paper or working with cedar have been a means of worship. Oftentimes her pieces, or “vessels of memory,” are intimately connected to a person for whom she prayed while creating. “Mother’s cache” is a basket layered with buttons from her grandfather’s clothing, showing that we as people have layers and it is upon the peeling back of them that we find the essence of who we are. When using cedar, she contemplates our desire to be impenetrable. She acknowledges emotional walls we construct when using porcupine quills. Van Reeuwyk observed the intense work of Indonesians in order to survive and grappled with labor: “how much work is enough? Too much? When is it dangerous?”

Roger Feldman from Seattle Pacific University shared the development of his use of color in art. Prior to Indonesia, he primarily used black and white with sparse color only as a psychological component. He learned that Indonesians see colors associated with certain religions and now does “mock-ettes” with color schemes, associations and imagery observed in Indonesia. He dealt with the cost found in discipleship and combines materials and colors to evoke people strongly rather than subtly.

Wheaton professor David Hooker had an epiphany on the trip after accidentally taking a picture of his feet. This led to grappling with questions: “Where am I?” “Who am I?” “Who am I in relation to this place?” He brought these questions to the surface through pictures of his feet in various places as a means of questioning how we react to the third world. He also is dealing with process and community oriented work as art is a slow, methodical, contemplative experience that can be an act of worship. He said significance is in the process of creating rather than a finished product (learned as his 8 foot sculpture completely shattering just before firing in the kiln).

“The exhibition presents the essential challenge of living with a spirit of grace (and all that entails) toward ones’ neighbor, whether that neighbor is next door or on the other side of the globe" (from the Art Department). Wheaton is a place that wrestles with how to live with grace, how to embrace our shared humanity and simultaneously our genuine difference. This conversation was a helpful outlet for our community to process together.

New Counselor, Christy Krumsieg

This week we highlight the second of our two new counselors! She is Christy Krumsieg, who started last month and is ready to help you through the admissions process. Her part of the applicant pool is the last names that start with A. We asked her a few questions so that you could get to know her better. For info about all the counselors, check out our website.

What brought you to Wheaton as a student?

Beginning in sixth grade, I’ve spent almost every summer at an amazing camp called HoneyRock. Growing up in urban St. Louis, I loved the opportunity to spend my summers in the northwoods of Wisconsin. I learned how to build wet wood fires and make tents using only a mosquito net; I spent my spare moments on the rock climbing tower and learned how to waterski. More importantly, my counselors (many of whom were Wheaton College students) poured out Christ’s love into my life and created space for me to listen to the Holy Spirit, read the Scriptures, and talk with God.

Thus, when I began the college search process as a high school junior, I already knew that I was interested in Wheaton. I knew Wheaton students were goofy and fun-loving, but they also took their faith seriously. As I began to compare Wheaton to other schools, I also realized that Wheaton had a high standard for rigorous academics. Beyond excellent academics and commitment to Christianity, Wheaton also “felt right.” It’s hard to explain the intangibles of a college, but it was some combination of the warmth of the students and professors, the beauty of the campus, the overwhelming number of available opportunities (ministries, study abroad, Chicago, classes, sports, etc.), and perhaps even the deliciousness of an ice cream cone at Sam’s café. I’m not sure what exactly “it” was, but I knew I wanted to be at Wheaton.

What brought you back to the Admissions Office?

During my time as a student, I had the privilege of hosting prospective students overnight in my dorm room, as well as leading campus tours. I loved sharing about my experience at Wheaton and introducing prospective students to the campus, whether that entailed playing intramural volleyball, eating omelets for breakfast, or simply hanging out with other girls on my floor. I’m so excited to be back in the Admissions Office, meeting other prospective students and their families and giving them a snapshot of life at Wheaton.

Favorite Wheaton memory?

During fall of my junior year, I did the Wheaton in Chicago program. A few of the Wheaton students in the program decided to participate in Oprah Winfrey’s (Final) Season 24 Kickoff Party. As part of the show, the Black Eyed Peas performed “I Got a Feeling” on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, and my friends were part of the flash mob dance. Later in the show, the illusionist Chriss Angel randomly selected two volunteers from the crowd for his magic trick. One of those volunteers was my friend and fellow Wheaton in Chicagoan Matt Hiltibran (Class of 2010). As a “thank you” for being a volunteer, he won an all-expense-paid trip to Las Vegas! Perhaps not a typical Wheaton experience, but it was memorable.

What’s your favorite thing to do in the Wheaton area?

LaSpiaza. It’s a cute little coffee shop on Main Street in downtown Wheaton. I love getting a hot mug of chai and plopping down on one of their couches to chat with a friend or read a book.

What is the best part of your job?

Meeting prospective students. Everyone has a unique story. Wheaton attracts people from all over the world, and I love how those stories often intersect during a few short years at Wheaton and how many of those friendships continue on for a whole lifetime. I love hearing students’ stories and look forward to hearing your story!

What advice do you have for prospective students?

Be thankful for each day that God gives you. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, uncertain, intimidated, even apathetic during the college search process. Don’t let those feelings rob you of the peace and joy that overflows from dwelling in Christ.

Roller Skater, New Counselor: Lauren Pfister

This week is the first installment of a two-part feature of our new counselors! The first is Lauren Pfister, who started last month and is ready to help you through the admissions process. Her part of the applicant pool is the last names R-Z. We asked her a few questions so that you could get to know her better. For info about all the counselors, check out our website.

What brought you to Wheaton as a student?

The world. The teaching. The friends! I wanted a place that was globally minded and Wheaton students are not only from all over, but they care about what’s going on in so many corners of the world. They have hearts for the neglected and go all over the globe after graduation to make a difference for Christ! I also wanted to be challenged academically and be confident I was getting a phenomenal education. My professors at Wheaton were experts in their fields, passionate about what they taught and took time to build mentoring relationships with me. I also realized the unique opportunity of being surrounded by other students who strive to find their identity in Christ. I was excited about dorm life, late night conversations and antics and cementing lifelong friendships. The friends I made at Wheaton continue to be the people that speak truth into my life and make me laugh hysterically today.

What brought you back to the Admissions Office?

It feels like coming home! I love Wheaton and I love high school students, so this is a dream job for me to integrate my passions. I could say more, but there’s not much more to it. I really love Wheaton and I really love high schoolers!

Favorite Wheaton memory?

My senior year was the first (now annual) CU Roller Skating party. I’m a sucker for 80’s music and all things neon and skating, so this was quite the Bermuda Triangle of Bliss for me! I lived in “The Long House” with 10 girls my senior year and we all went together and became a sweaty mess by the end of it but had a blast! Really living with these girls was incredible-these friendships are encouraging and life-giving and there are few people I know who are funnier than these girls! We went on a cruise for spring break and still have annual reunions even though we live all over the country and the world now. We’ve grown a lot in our relationships but the memories of roller discos, laughing til we cry, and listening, caring and loving each other in the walls of the Long House are our joyful beginnings.

What’s your favorite thing to do in the Wheaton area?

Anything outside! It’s beautiful here-walking through campus in the fall to go to a soccer game, walking to downtown Wheaton through parks to Tate’s ice cream with friends, going on a run with friends on the Prairie Path or through the Wheaton neighborhoods—it’s gorgeous!

What is the best part of your job?

Getting to know the amazing people that apply to Wheaton. I love hearing how they are growing in their relationships with Christ, what they love to study in school and the things that make them come alive!

What advice do you have for prospective students?

Be yourself as you write essays, fill out applications, and are interviewed. We want to know YOU fully for who you are, so don’t feel like you have to make yourself sound great. Honestly, you already are great! God has uniquely gifted every one of you and we want to get to know you and celebrate who you are, not look for some cookie cutter mold that we have in mind.

Tips for Writing Great Essays

Posted by Henry Shuffle

Here in the Admissions Office we recently sat down to talk about the role of essays in Wheaton's application. We all agreed that the essays students write are a valuable window into who they are and what makes them tick. You can find the newest batch of essay questions in the application. But how do you go about writing great essays?

We've talked about this topic before (here and here) but, since we want you to write the best essays possible (which is more fun for both the writer and the reader), another round of advice won't hurt!

The New York Times' The Choice blog is devoted to all sorts of college admissions issues - and they often have really good tips for students. I think their recent tip sheet by Alan Gelb on writing essays is on the right track, especially tip number one on the value of removing distractions:

"Distractions like TV, texting, video games and Internet surfing can seriously inhibit inspiration [...] schedule some time away from those electronic diversions and find a park bench, rooftop, library carrel or some other quiet place where you can hear your thoughts bubbling up from deep down in your consciousness."

Are you looking for essay writing mentors? There are many authors who have perfected the art of writing vibrant and compelling essays. Perhaps you could add C.S. Lewis, E.B. White, or George Orwell to your summer reading. They will teach you to write clearly and creatively - always a tough balancing act.