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Spirited discussions are happening in Washington, D.C. That’s what Calvin junior Joe Toly calls them. But he’s not referring to the ones we see in the news media, he’s talking about the ones happening over dinner or coffee among Calvin students interning on the Hill. 
 
“Everyone out here who has a job working on the Hill is a very politically savvy and smart student who knows their stuff,” said Toly, a double major in political science and history. “So, having all of us in the room with varying opinions is making us better at representing where we come from.” 

On different sides of the aisle, still best friends

Toly is one of six Calvin students this semester working with members of Congress from the State of Michigan. The students, who are part of the university’s Semester in D.C. program, are interning on both sides of the aisle. In fact, Toly and his roommate, Ian Tjoelker, are working for members of Congress from different political parties, which naturally leads to them not agreeing on everything.

“I’m a little more conservative, he’s a little more liberal, we both are at Calvin and it’s beautiful to see how we can come together and be best friends. It’s been cool to help each other grow in D.C. although we are working on different sides of the aisle,” said Toly. 

Learning "how" not "what" to think

For Toly and Tjoelker, a big reason they’ve been able to navigate conversations across difference is by putting into practice what they’ve learned at Calvin. 
 
“Calvin teaches you not what to think, but how to think, and that accommodates all sides of the political spectrum,” said Toly. “At Calvin, you’re not taught by professors that welfare programs are right or wrong, you are taught to think critically about those programs and how to approach them from Christian and pragmatic perspectives.” 

Ripe for renewal

In Toly’s few months in the nation’s capital, he sees a clear need for renewal in the American civic system. And he says it starts with the way people view one another. 
 
“What’s lacking in the American civic system right now is that a lot of people are not viewing each other as being made in the image of God or as people who we are called to treat with respect and dignity, regardless if we feel their argument is well thought out or applicable,” said Toly. 
 
Through the Semester in D.C. program, Toly sees how his fellow students and the alumni they’ve interacted with who are working in various agencies are trying to model a better way. 
 
“It’s iron sharpening iron,” said Toly. “What brings us together is a shared faith, shared love for each other. It’s a great space to have really constructive moments of learning.” 

Access to unprecedented opportunities

The experience has not only been deeply impactful for the students, Toly says it’s also provided them “with unprecedented exposure to the people who are literally shaping lives in the U.S. and around the world,” as well as access to networks and future opportunities. 

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“When we talk about being Christ’s agent of renewal in the world, that world includes Washington D.C.,” said Toly. “Washington impacts much of the world, and Calvin is making a good investment by running this program. 
 
“One of the best things that came out of this is the opportunity to get to continue to work with the congressman over the summer on a full-time basis,” said Toly. “I wanted to work in politics after this semester and I got an offer to do that because of this semester.” 
 
Toly is grateful for the next opportunity and says it was made possible because of the investment of his professors to line up this one.  
 
“Professor Koopman connected me with the congressman in the fall and that was the reason I didn’t have to look for internships. His network helped me,” said Toly. “It’s reassuring to have professors with so much expertise who are helping us search for internships, discern vocational goals, and further our understanding of Christianity and politics. Calvin has such an impressive wealth of knowledge and all sorts of folks to fall back on in helping us navigate Christian life in the public sphere.”