Success is a word that walks down the aisle with us at graduation, follows us to work, and whispers in our ears as we spend time with those we love. We long for it, make plans and sacrifices in order to achieve it, and get depressed when we don’t have it. But what is success, and how does one go about achieving it? Is success just getting good grades in school, earning lots of money, driving a fancy car, or being married to a beautiful woman or handsome man? What makes one successful in life, and how does one measure success—by the clothes we wear, the car we drive, the people we spend our time with?

While Andrews University (Andrews) is an educational institution, a good grade point average is not the only way we measure success. An education at Andrews helps students become well-rounded individuals who strive to do their best, not just for themselves, but for the glory of God, whether that means doing well academically, building good relationships with others, or getting to know Jesus a little better each day.

The Andrews motto, Corpus, Mens, Spiritus (Body, Mind, Spirit), represents the school’s belief that success is about leading well-rounded and balanced lives. If one part of the triangle is weak, the other sides are effected and cannot function at their highest level, which is why Andrews strives to provide programming and assistance in areas beyond academics. All over campus the attitude of body, mind, and spirit is evident in the caring, spiritual nature of professors, the helpful guidance of staff and academic support, and the opportunities given to build lasting relationships with friends from around the world, and above all, with their Savior, Jesus Christ.

Support

The motto for the support team at Andrews University's Student Success Center is "Success for All." Their basic goal is to help students, all students, get the assistance needed to be successful.

"We help students open the door to being successful," states Karen Tilstra, the Center's advising coordinator. "We're about success via collaboration and connection. When students need help, we can help them personally or put them in touch with people who can."

Between 800 and 1,000 students seek help with a variety of challenges each semester. Those who haven’t declared a major get help with career counseling. Over 500 students get help through the process of changing their major each semester.

The Student Success team assists students who have academic questions, need extra tutoring in a specific subject, are struggling in their classes, have a conflict with a teacher or advisor, or face specific challenges related to a disability. The team also gives support to parents and fellow students who seek to be a part of the student's success formula.

Counselors at the Center connect 150–200 students with 60–70 trained tutors in English, math, chemistry, and many other subjects each semester. Those seeking help with job placement are connected with someone who can help them write an impressive résumé and practice how to go through the interview process. Students with worries beyond school work are connected with counselors in the Counseling and Testing Center.

The Student Success team strongly believes advisors are a key element in the academic success of a college student. According to Ron Whitehead, assistant to the president for spiritual life, advisors at Andrews University do more than help students prepare for academic life. “Advisors help students catch a vision for life as soon as possible and get them involved in spiritual life on campus. They advise them not just to make a career, but a ministry out of a career.”

The Student Success team works closely with advisors as a source of support and training. Because a balance between body, mind, and spirit is just as important for the faculty and staff as it is for the students, they help advisors be a good support system by providing them with a good support system. The Advisor’s Breakfast and Advisor’s Prayer Lunch are examples of two encouraging programs where advisors can eat, fellowship, and pray with campus spiritual leaders.

“Next to the fine members of my two academic departments, the Student Success Center folks do more to make me feel valued and appreciated than any other entity on campus,” comments Beverly Matiko, associate professor of communication and English. “They generously offer praise, encouragement, and all manner of nourishment. They go out of their way to say 'thank-you,' not stopping at preaching partnership, but practicing it.”

Integrating faith and learning is really the key to success. This principle, demonstrated by the Student Success team, is evident in classrooms all over the campus.

Mentoring

"Andrews University is here for the sole purpose of fostering the reality of Christian life and its premise of a viable relationship with God,” explains Susan Zork, assistant professor of religion. “Specifically, we teach and underscore this reality within the context of higher education, career choices, and at a time when our students are making some of life’s most profound and impacting decisions … it’s why we exist.”

A beloved professor, Susan provides students in her classes with the opportunity to experience God in a hands-on, practical way, particularly evident in her “Personal Faith and Spirituality” class. “It’s a class on pursuing God, helping Him to be a real and tangible entity in their lives,” explains Susan.

Students have the opportunity to experience a variety of spiritual disciplines in a lab-oriented class style. Each week students practice a different discipline, journaling about their experience. On Friday, they meet together in small groups to share their process.

For the discipline of fasting, Susan and her students set aside one day to fast and pray. At the end of the fast the group comes together in "potluck" fashion, with each student bringing a small offering of fruit, muffins, or cereal. As they eat together, students share their experiences. For some, there is a new awareness of God's personal involvement in helping them meet the challenges of life. For others, the experience is a realization of the mechanical nature of their daily habits.

“Honestly, I want everyone to leave my class a changed person, period. Either in being more sure than they have ever been before regarding the realness and personal nature of Jesus and His intention to know us and save us, or with new conviction of this precious truth for the first time,” says Susan.

Caring

The connection between faith and learning is not only evident in the religion department, but is experienced by students all over campus. Ellen Hwangbo, sophomore piano performance major, credits her decision to be baptized last year, as well as her love of music, to the influence of her piano teacher and mentor, Peter Cooper, music department chair.

Ellen likes to tell the story of her audition for Peter almost seven years ago. Having just moved to the United States from Seoul, South Korea, with her family, Ellen hated the idea of breaking her three-year hiatus from all things involving music. Still reeling from the harsh words of former teachers, she had come to hate playing the piano and was only picking it up again at the encouragement of her parents.

At her audition, Peter asked young Ellen if she liked playing the piano, a question answered with silence and a "look" that said louder than words, "No!" To see and hear her play now, you would never know it.

“I have studied piano for 13 years, six and a half with Dr. Cooper,” says Ellen. “Before, I played piano but didn’t love it. He taught me to love the music.”

“At other schools, teachers are more concerned with their own names,” Ellen explains. “Dr. Cooper sits for hours with students who can’t even play a scale. He believes in all his students. He first taught me music, and then how to be a better person.”

Ellen compares the department of music to a family who truly cares about each other and their success. In a field as competitive as music, this is a rare trait. Ellen has had the opportunity to play across the country, spending several summers studying at a variety of prestigious music festivals. But, no matter where she goes, she’s always ready to return to Andrews.

“I always want to come back here. There’s so much competition in other places. It’s hard to love what you’re doing and worry about beating the other person. Friends here really care for you. At other places, it’s hard to find those who like you as a person because there is just so much competition. Here, if you’re having a bad day, friends drop everything to be with you. We care about each other, encourage each other—even those working in the office and music library.”

Ellen loves to share her music and can see herself traveling with other Christian musicians, such as her sister, Sheryl, who plays the violin. But, she knows music isn’t everything. “You can’t live with just music. It’s something God has given me to do in life, but it’s not my life.”

Invigorating

Because studying and work isn’t everything, Dave Jardine, social recreation and athletics director, works hard to provide a balance for students, giving them the opportunity to relax, have fun, and fellowship with others.

“At Social Recreation, we create opportunities for students to build relationships, find new friends, and therefore connect with Andrews University,” says Dave.

It’s the relationships built and the memories made that people carry with them when graduation is over. It’s why people want to come back to visit on alumni weekends. Ten or more years after college, people will most likely not remember what they learned in their human development and statistics classes, but will remember the fun times shared with friends while sliding down the tubing hill or at basketball games in the gym. It’s the relationships built while in college that go beyond the classroom.

A variety of programs are planned throughout the year to give students that social and physical outlet, whether it’s through fun events like the annual Fall Barn Party, Almost Anything Goes, Splash for Cash, the Beach 2 Bank Race, or through a variety of sports programs.

Intramurals, a program growing in numbers, gives students and faculty the chance to play together, building relationships outside the classroom. Friendship games in basketball, soccer, and ice hockey allow students to interact with teams from other schools. Students may take leadership positions in the planning and carrying out of all the events organized by the Social Recreation department. Dave works with a leadership team of around 20 students.

“It’s incredible to have that amount of talent on campus,” says Dave. “We have a team that meets on a regular basis to plan events. Students come with great ideas; we build on it together, and go from there.”

Dave plans to organize more trips to take students off campus. This year, students had the opportunity to travel to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, on the annual skiing trip, as well as a spring break trip to Orlando, Florida.

“On the bus ride or traveling, there is a great chance to build relationships,” explains Dave. “Oftentimes, the traveling is just as much fun as the trip itself.”

“It’s a complete package here at Andrews,” says Dave. “Social Recreation is here to help fill in the gaps, providing healthy choices to fill in some of the downtime.”

If students don’t have a strong social support system, they are less likely to do well academically. “When one aspect suffers—social, spiritual, or academic—it’s a struggle for the others as well,” explains Dave.

Challenging

What gives Andrews a unique edge is that students have the opportunity to build relationships with people from all around the globe, broadening their perspective and helping them learn how to be citizens of the world. With a student body representing 90 different countries, a walk through campus can take you from Berrien Springs, Michigan, to Kenya, Taiwan, Germany, or Australia.

A senior French and international public relations major, Bjorn Karlman, "world citizen," is a perfect example of the international culture uniquely found at Andrews. A native of Sweden, Bjorn was raised in the Philippines, has gone to school in France and England, speaks fluent Swedish, French, and English, and is working on Spanish, his fourth language.

“I am Swedish, and I was worried I would not be able to keep my identity as a European when I came to the States,” says Bjorn. “Quite the contrary, when I came to Andrews I realized there was a European club and there were even special functions for Scandinavians. Far from losing my identity, Andrews affirms it.”

With the support of the International Student Services Office and events such as the annual International Food Fair, international students can find a home away from home on the Andrews campus. A variety of clubs representing cultural heritages, from Romanian to Brazilian, Chinese to African, give students the opportunity to learn about cultures different than their own.

“Meeting the staff and students from all around the world and hearing their perspectives on issues is fascinating because it challenges me and helps me understand more about the world around me,” comments Bjorn.

With affiliations all over the globe, students have the opportunity to receive degrees from Andrews while living in places like Thailand, India, Mexico, or England. Students in the States may also learn a second or third language while living abroad for a year in countries such as Austria, France, or Argentina.

“If I want to learn a different language, chances are Andrews is affiliated with a school in a country that speaks the language,” states Bjorn. “If I want to work in another country, there is a strong possibility a professor or student here has contacts in the country I am interested in.”

With degrees in international development, international public relations, international business, and languages like French and Spanish, Andrews is preparing students to cross borders and work all over the world.

“As an international public relations and French double major, I see Andrews as great preparation for the globalized working world,” states Bjorn. "The diversity at Andrews opens doors for students to truly follow the Great Commission, 'Go ye therefore into all the world.'”

As Dave stated, Andrews is “a complete package.” Students have the opportunity to be successful in all areas of life, maintaining balance—Corpus, Mens, Spiritus. And success at Andrews doesn’t come in one shape, size, or color. It is as unique as the individuals who walk this campus.

Beverly Stout is the University Relations Lake Union Herald correspondent.