I KNEW I WANTED TO BE A COLLEGE PROFESSOR WHEN . . . I never thought about teaching college until I actually did it as a grad assistant. But I do love teaching college, and I know it’s a calling. College students are inquisitive, and they’re finding their voice. And it’s such a rewarding experience to witness them figuring out who they are.
MY TEACHING MOTTO IS . . . I pray that I see each one, I listen to each one, I recognize each one.
I THINK MY SUBJECT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE . . . we as humans are made up of words.
I DECIDED TO JOIN THE NGU FAMILY BECAUSE . . . God up- rooted me. It was the only time in my life I really didn’t know what I was go- ing to do. When I left Northland — it’s in the Upper Peninsula of Wisconsin — it’s a beautiful place: mountains, forests, and deer everywhere. And when I left, I was crying and crying, and my sister wanted to know why. And I said, “I’m never going to teach anywhere beautiful again.” And it wasn’t even two weeks later that I was driving to Tigerville for the first time. I got out of my car, and I immediately looked towards those mountains. Even before I’d spoken to a person, I knew this was where I was going to be.
THE TITLE OF MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY WOULD BE . . . “Even Tough You’re Not Listening, I’m Still Talking.”
MY FAVORITE PART OF TEACHING IS . . . It’s remarkable that I get paid to read books that I already want to read and talk about authors that I already want to talk about, but it’s all about the students.
A Changed Life Matthew Huff (’09)
Dr. Becky Tompson, in every sense of the phrase, completely changed my life.
I had Dr. Tompson as a professor my very first semester at NGU. We bonded quickly. (In fact,
I’m not sure there is anyone whom Dr. Tompson could not instantly reach.) And her kind, gentle, and cheerful attitude put me at ease. She made me feel welcome, loved, and special.
Once she had become my advisor, we met in her office toward the end of that semester to talk about which classes I would take next. Early in the conversation, we had begun discussing some of our favorite writers with excitement and laughter.
She leaned over to me and said, “Matt, why are you not an English major?”
Tat day, she switched me over to English, and I have never looked back.
Te faculty in the English Department quickly recognized a passion and love for literature and poetry within me. Tey welcomed me in as an English major and spent the rest of my time at NGU — and beyond — shepherding and guiding my passion not only toward the deep waters of beautiful literature, but also toward the deeper and more glorious truth of Jesus.
Trough all the classes I took as an English major, I discovered that God had uniquely called me to connect my love for literature to the work I would do upon graduating. Tough I did not always know exactly how God would use this passion, my professors allowed me to see what was once a simple interest in books as a wonderful gift that God had placed in my heart to use for His glory. It was not just a hobby; it was my life.
After NGU, I went on to get my MA in English at Belmont University. In 2012, I joined the English Department at Landmark Christian School in Fairburn, GA, where I now teach 12th-grade English classes. In addi- tion to teaching, I recently wrote a book of poetry titled “Te Cardinal Turns the Corner” and blog at
edenbabel.com.
I credit NGU with providing me a critical stepping stone in my life. I could never fully express my gratitude for the professors and the friends at NGU who helped me discover everything God was calling me to be.
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