98 Feature

GISH graduates: where are they now?As students trudge through the halls of GISH day in and day out,

it’s hard for them to imagine a life out-side these walls. All too soon, though, every single Islander will be out in the real world, whether as college students or productive members of the work-force. All too often, the students who have graduated are forgotten; however, looking at the stories of Islanders past can be inspiring and motivational. One such student is Ben Rob-bins, a graduate of the Class of 2008. While at GISH, Robbins was involved in Theater, Band, Orchestra, Madrigals, Chamber Choir, Show Choir, Student Council, Soccer, and Cross Country, among many other things. Meanwhile, in January of his junior year, Mr. Uhing encouraged Robbins to begin looking at Ivy League schools; when his senior year rolled around, he applied to Yale, only three days before the deadline, “because I thought I wanted to go to Harvard…I was, of course, terribly confused.” Needless to say, Robbins felt that Yale was a better fit. “I…imme-diately felt that this [Yale] was a place I could grow in my faith…I ended up heading to Yale because that’s where I felt God was leading me.” A graduate of the same class, Sarah Kuta (who was involved in Theater, Band, Student Council, “The Islander” school newspaper, Speech Team, and Community Youth Council ), went to Northwestern University, mainly because of the famed Medill School of Journalism. “I went into college a journal-ism major and came out the other end with a journalism degree. I never even considered another career or major…For me, journalism is the perfect mix

of learning something new every day, becoming an expert on the most random things, meeting new people, telling their stories, and using words to pull some-one in and get them interested.” Unlike Kuta, there was a time when Robbins felt unsure about his place at Yale and his major. “There was…a point during my sophomore fall when I thought that I just didn’t belong at Yale, that I should just admit defeat and transfer back to UNL. That was the last semester thatI tried to be an engineer, an ambition I

had had since high school. In the spring of sophomore year, I looked into some sociology classes…I began to realize that there was a major in which the way that I think naturally is valued.” Robbins went on to graduate with a degree in sociology and now works with Campus Crusades for Christ on the campus of Yale. “I love that I’m able to continue to be around college students…at this point, the calling I’m feeling to campus ministry at Yale is in the three to five year range…I know I will always be in ministry some-

where,” he said. Although he isn’t pur-suing sociology, he says that the course-work prepared him for what he now sees as his calling. “I am beginning to understand how God has used sociology to prepare me for my work in Christian ministry now…I could see myself be-ing on staff with Campus Crusades for Christ here for a longer period of time...[but] I know I will always be in ministry somewhere.” Likewise, Kuta sees herself staying with journalism. After gradu-ating from Northwestern last spring,

she spent the summer interning for the Associated Press before accepting a job as a reporter for the “Colorado Daily” in Boulder, Colorado. “Since there are many journal-ism jobs out there, it’s best to stay put, get some experience, and start living life. I live in a beautiful state, and I’m about six hours from my family,” Kuta explained. She went on to say that she believes in the staying power of journal-ism, even as the main source of news shifts from print to online. “I don’t think

there has to be an either/or situation. We can have both…eReaders, Kindles, Nooks, iPads, computers and hard copies…as long as news is happen-ing, and as long as people continue to do crazy awesome things that other people will want to read about, there will always be a need for the dissemi-nation of information.” Although these GISH grads have entered the real world, they haven’t forgotten what it’s like to be a high school student, wondering how to get the most out of college and fearing the point where they have to enter what adults have dubbed “the real world”; luckily, both Robbins and Kuta imparted some useful sugges-tions. As for life in college, Rob-bins said, “Take time to sort through what you believe [in college]. It is a unique stage of life where you have so much time and so many resources and people wanting to help you. Take advantage of those things, and tackle some of the hard questions.” Additionally, Kuta said, “The best learning you do will most likely be outside the classroom…You can learn a lot from professors, but you can learn a lot form the student and

mentors around you, too, especially those who have gone before you in your field of choice.” In closing, Robbins gave this piece of advice: “Don’t be afraid to pursue the things that come naturally to you. When I discovered sociology, I was so relieved and excited that I never really looked back. I did as much coursework as I could and delved deeply into sociological research for my senior thesis…Learning to learn well and becoming specialized in something, even if it's not where you end up for life, is never time wasted.”

What do you remember most about Sarah Kuta and Ben Robbins?

Abbey KutlasReporter

“Both were multi-talented with great personalities—always willing to do whatever it took.”-Mr. HabermanFine Arts Teacher

“Both towered above their peers in middle school.”-Dr. HehnkeMedia Specialist

“Ben was a creative thinker; Sarah was very thorough and could put her thoughts into words.”-Mr. KushCalculus Teacher

“They were great singers/dancers.”-Brenda AndersonSecretary to the Principal

Kuta and Robbins perform in "Post Mortem" in May 2008.

After recieving the Jack L. Martins Scholarship, Robbins and Kuta pose with the Martins.

Ben Robbins smiles after graduating from Yale University in New Haven, CT.

Coursey Photos

Sarah Kuta grins after graduating from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.