by JIANA MARTIN ’26
Updated 11:50 a.m. EDT, 25 April 2025
As the 2024-2025 school year draws to a close, some seniors feel bittersweet about ending this chapter of their lives. Many parts of Houghton University (HU) will be missed, from its community and atmosphere to the horses at the Equestrian Center.
“I am going to miss being so close to all of my friends so much,” said Senior Emma Ryan, “but I know this will not be the last time I see them.”
Keeping in touch with her friends is one of Ryan’s goals for after graduation.
Senior Phebe Grant will not only miss the people she has met on campus, but also the areas surrounding Houghton.
“Houghton is a special place that is filled with people who deeply care and want to learn and grow together,” Grant said. “The rural landscape has come to feel like home and the farmland, rolling hills, creeks, fields, woods, and creekstone buildings are so beautiful.”
The horses at the Houghton Equestrian Center have also impacted Senior Joy Musser’s time at the university.
“They are all such incredible partners and teachers,” Musser said. “I’ve formed a close relationship with a few of them and I am going to miss their gentle presence,” she continued.
Each seniors’ college career has been filled with many memories that will carry with them. One of Ryan’s favorite memories was attending The Cry during her freshman spring semester. She spent the night working with her friends and listening to great music.
Grant’s favorite memory comes from her time spent on the cross country team. Every year she looked forward to the potluck meal held with her team after the home meet on the Field of Dreams.
“It was always special to run on our course, have the Houghton community cheer us on, and fellowship together with family and friends after the race,” Grant reflected.
Musser reminisced about the hilarious moments in her Equestrian Pedagogy Methods class where she was taught how to become a riding instructor. During class, she had to “act like bad riders in order to work on teaching skills and it was always just hysterical.”
Over the past four years, HU has been a place of learning and growing in different ways. Musser has learned to be more patient as a rider and more gentle with the horses. Ryan has learned how to be a good friend from the friends she has made. Additionally, she has learned “a lot about hard work.” Faced with some fears of being under qualified and unsuccessful at the start of her freshman year, Ryan has figured out that “perseverance and determination go a long way” and that you can get through anything.
Moving forward into new spaces and careers is both exciting and sad. While their time at HU was fun, the students feel ready to take the next steps into adulthood and follow the path God has for them.
Musser, in particular, believes “figuring out what feels like home in a different place will be a struggle,” but she knows the Lord will be with her through it all.
“I am hopeful that somewhere new will eventually feel like home,” Musser said.
While leaving HU is bittersweet, graduation is an exciting time for celebrating each student’s accomplishments.
Ryan shared this excitement by saying, “HAPPY GRADUATION EVERYBODY! WE DID IT!!!” ★
