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to Life,  Barbara
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Why I teach at Houghton

by Paul Young '76

When I came here, fresh off my doctoral candidacy exams and with a brand new baby girl, teaching at Houghton was a dream come true. I had been a student here, and Houghton has played a redemptive and transforming role in my life. I jumped at the opportunity to return, to be a part of this wonderful community and to pass on to others the encouragement and affirmation that I had received. Most of all, I wanted to help students see that intellectual pursuit and deep personal faith really do fit together.

I did get to do those things. I found teaching immensely satisfying. The students were bright and industrious, and they gave me enough encouragement to balance the occasional difficulty. But gradually some things changed.

I became more comfortable with my job. I served on committees, working closely with a variety of colleagues. I saw the values and goals of my peers, and gained insights into Christian liberal arts education and the future direction of Houghton. I learned that more was involved in a Houghton education than teaching. But I loved teaching here.

Then the students changed. Slowly it dawned on me that they and I were no longer in the same generation. We had different experiences, and I had to abandoned my favorite examples, illustrations, and jokes. My students referred to people and musical groups I hadn't heard of. My baby girl was now one of them. But still, I loved teaching teaching here.

Students were still bright and industrious. I continued to be amazed that they would do all of the work that I asked them to do. They still wanted to learn how their faith relates to what they are learning and how they should live.

And then I began to see the children of my students, raised by parents who were living out the ideas they learned and strengthened at Houghton. I saw that they had been so affected by this place that they wanted their children to have the same benefits. I saw other parents, new to Houghton, investing their money and entrusting their children to our care. They and their children believed that what we are doing here is worthwhile, is beneficial, is good. I still want to be a part of that. I love teaching here.

Finally I see what my students do when they leave Houghton. I am pleased to see them earn graduate degrees and establish clinics, teach and preach, marry and remain faithful, worship God and serve people. I want to be a part of that.

Life is good. God is gracious. Students are smart. And I still love teaching here.