Lara Tongue
Highschool: Homeschool
Class of 2020
Independent Student of the Day
Lara Tongue is a freshman at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI studying speech pathology.
In her first year at Calvin, Lara has already jumped right in and found her niche on campus. She is an active member of the National Student Speech, Language and Hearing Association at Calvin and recently helped organize a Girls' Club event, where girls with special needs attended an evening of crafts and games with the Calvin speech pathology students. Lara is active with Calvin campus ministries, and combines her faith with her passion for dance by performing during chapel services. She is an Honors Fellow, part of a competitive research program for first year students, and serves on the Calvin Honors Council, a student board that meets with faculty to plan honors program activities. Laura also works in the admissions office as an overnight host and tour guide for prospective students, where she surely shows future Knights the many ways to get involved on the Calvin campus.
In the community, Lara shares her musical talents (she plays the violin, fiddle and bagpipes, and dances too) through the Grand Traverse Pipes and Drums. But that's hasn't been her only performance outlet. She played fiddle and danced for the Tongue Family Band for nine years and performed with the Northwest Michigan Ballet Theater. Lara also leads Kindergarten children's worship at a church in Grand Rapids.
My motivation
My faith and people motivate me. When I feel tired, I rely on Jesus for renewal of energy. I strive to place Him at the center of everything I do, and then everything else falls into place. People also motivate me because I truly desire to encourage them in their personal growth. I love hearing their unique stories and discovering what motivates them.
My latest accomplishments
Most recently a girl on my floor began confiding in me with problems she has been facing. It gives me an immense sense of accomplishment when people trust me with their struggles. I was also offered a job as a tour guide at Calvin, which is an exciting new adventure.
Next big goal
I hope to get a summer job as a counselor at a Christian camp in Minnesota. I'm also planning to study abroad next year in Ghana.
Why is choosing your own path important?
Choosing your own path is important because going with the flow, although initially appealing, does not benefit you or anyone else in the long run. In decisions like selecting a major or choosing where to study, it is important not to base decisions on other peoples' opinions, but instead to discover your own passions and path in life. I find that I often look to others for approval, but this is not the goal of our lives. Instead, standing in solidarity for what we know is right (like fighting inequality and injustice) gives greater purpose to our lives.
Favorite place on campus
I love the atrium in the science building.Share this profile
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