Alumnus Spotlight: Christine Niu—Literature, History, and Gap Year

Christi: Welcome to Alumnus Spotlight Show. Today, you’ll meet our first alumnus guest Christine Niu. Let me briefly introduce her.

Christine lived in Central New Jersey with her parents and younger brother, who was in TPS up until the past school year. After graduating from TPS in 2022, she enjoyed a gap year. This fall she will attend Mount Holyoke College and major in history or English or both. Other people described her as introspective, chaotic, and caring.  She was a clay columnist for three years, two as the Girl’s Spotlight Columnist and one as the Book Columnist. Her hobbies include reading (she loves it more than anything else), playing the piano, and gaming. Let’s welcome Christine Niu!

Christine: Hi Christi, it’s great to be here.

Christi: Nice to meet you! It seems that you’re wearing a formal dress. Where were you just now?

Christine: Oh, I just went to my gap year graduation in MMR.

Christi: That sounds nice. Why did you decide to have a gap year?

Christine: I didn’t particularly want to go straight to college after graduating. I wanted more experience in different things and discipleship in the Word – especially after Covid when I had been cooped up practically alone for two years. In the end, things worked out perfectly for me to request a gap year from my college and I gladly took the opportunity.

Christi: You mentioned MMR before, what is it? And what did you do during your gap year?

Christine: I attended Miracle Mountain Ranch’s School of Discipleship, a yearlong discipleship program, this past year. MMR is where TPS holds its yearly summer camp and graduation. So I’ve now graduated twice on the same stage! It’s been the absolute most wonderful experience, and I’m SO glad I came. From September to May, we did Bible classes (more school!!) and department work. Then from June to August, we worked in summer camp positions. I worked in the ranch Guest Services department during the year, then wrangled trail rides during the summer. All of it has been such a huge blessing for me, and everyone involved. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my gap year. The things I’ve learned will follow me the rest of my life, and I’m beyond grateful for the time and effort the staff invest into all of us students. So this past year has been very meaningful to me in so many different ways.

Christi: Wow, it sounds really meaningful. Does this count as a plug for the School of Discipleship?

Christine: Yup, a shameless plug!

Christi: Haha, now let’s talk about your major. Why did you choose to study history or English in college?

Christine: The simplest answer would just be that I enjoy history and English. However, it was Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Rilla of Ingleside that first got me interested in history. Ten-year-old Christine could not have imagined the significance of that book in her future studies, and it is admittedly funny in retrospect that a book about the Canadian home front during WWI played such an important role in an Asian-American girl’s life over a hundred years later. Yet, it did and through it I found a love for the humanity of history. History took on a new understanding – no longer just bland facts, but people’s experiences and lives. Also, TPS taught me the importance of both through its rigorous courses (shoutout to Mrs. Fred and Mr. C!!). I discovered a love for both through the amount of work I did for those classes. As for English, the eternal value of stories means so much to me, and the uncountable stories told over human history through both oral and written tradition fascinate me. The written word is dizzying in its possibilities. Studying its intricacies is SO cool to me. I’m not sure if I’m going to end up studying one or the other or both, but I’d love to do both.

Christi: I can really feel your passion to history and literature through your words. So what are your favorite books? What type of books do you like to read?

Christine: Asking me my favorite books is going to earn you an essay answer. But I’ll try to keep it simple. The books that tend to top my ever-changing list are Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (+ also Hexwood by her), Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, and The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge. Plus, pretty much anything by ND Wilson. I also have to include Rilla of Ingleside because of reasons stated before. I read almost anything depending on my mood. I particularly enjoy fantasy and historical fiction.

Christi: What career do you want to do in the future?

Christine: I don’t necessarily have a good idea, but at the moment my plan is law school.

Christi: If you could go back to your first year in high school, what would you say to yourself?

Christine: Pay attention and consider your blessings to be in TPS. Also, ask for help! Do things when you should! Check your priorities and learn to adapt.

Christi: Any memorable moments in TPS?

Christine: Yeah, LOTS of them through my six years. Definitely a highlight of my years was always the clay; round robins and subsequent chaos; and then of course, TPS camp – meeting my friends in real life and having the privilege of watching the senior’s graduate.

Christi: Speaking of clay, what was the best thing about working in clay?

Christine: It’s definitely the collaboration between fellow students from all around the world.

Christi: To end our interview, what advice would you give to younger students?

Christine: Take advantages of the resources you have! Teachers are here to help you. Make the most of the time you are given. And yes, I’ll quote Gandalf here: “All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.” Listen to the wizard, y’all.

Christi: Thank you so much Christine!

Christine: Thank you too. Bye!

Photo Credit: Christine Niu