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WHITEHOUSE FOR
CONSIDERATION TO BE A
‘WHITEHOUSE FELLOW’
(according to the standards
set by the application)
1. PROFESSIONAL & EDUCATIONAL SUMMARY
*1996-97: Was hired as a substitute teacher for the Grand Rapids Public Schools
while also attending Calvin Seminary, but was never called for any assignments.
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*1993-94 FULL-TIMESTUDENT (Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI). I completed
the education/English program for my second BA and obtained my preliminary
teaching degree.
I was accepted into Wayne State Law School for the academic year 1990-91.I
moved to Detroit from Grand Rapids (MI) in August of 1990; and I attended
Wayne State Law School for several months and then I DROPPED OUT of law
school around November of 1990,disenchanted. I went to California where my
family moved when I was a senior in high school (1984).
*1989 (spring) LAWOFFICE ASSISTANT (Mika, Meyers, Beckett, & Jones; Grand
Rapids, MI)
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*1985-89 FULL TIMESTUDENT (Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI) During this
period I obtained my first bachelors degree (BA) in psychology and also attended
Chaminade University in Honolulu for a semester as well as National University of
Spain, Denia for a semester.
VANderKOK, Question #2
2. EDUCATIONALBACKGROUND
*1990-91 Wayne State Law School (Detroit, MI) (1stsemester); Activities: exploring
Detroit
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*1985-86 Chaminade University of Honolulu (HI) (Fall semester) Activities:
intramural flag football, body boarding & body surfing, Oahu;
*1982-85 Grand Rapids Christian High School(GRCH) full time high school student
Activities: junior varsity & varsity high school football team(All-City, honorable
mention)snow skiing, deer hunting, golf, basketball (for fun), attending church
(1stCRC)
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*1996-97: Hired as substitute teacher for the Grand Rapids Public Schools while
also
attending Calvin Seminary, but was never called for any assignments. Grand Rapids
Public Schools are located at: 1331 Franklin SE P.O.Box 117 Grand Rapids, MI
49501-0117;
*1992-93 Social Work internship at the emergency room at St. Mary’s Hospital in
Long Beach; St. Mary’s Hospital is located at: 1050Linden Avenue, Long Beach, CA
90813
The Christian Reformed Church Hdq. is located at: 2850 Kalamazoo St,
Grand Rapids, MI 49560
*1989 (spring) LAWOFFICE ASSISTANT (Mika, Meyers, Beckett, & Jones; Grand
Rapids, MI)
In preparation for law school (which I never finished) I took a job as law library
assistant at this law office located at 900 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616-632-8000
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2)Pizza Delivery for Dominoes Pizza, Grand Rapids, Michigan
4. VOLUNTARY ACTIVITIES
“The American Red Cross…, will provide relief to victims of disasters and help
people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.”
http://scncredcross.org/mission.htm
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(CRC) World Missions (CRWM) team in the country of the Philippines with a
group of young Christians from the USA & Canada, led by long-term American
missionaries in the Philippines. This was paid for by contributions as well as out of
my own pocket.
“The teachers, administrators, and staff of the Los Angeles Unified School District
believe in the equal growth and dignity of all students and are committed to educate
all students to their maximum potential.”
Mission Statement:
“To reach all people with the Good News of Jesus Christ,
*1989 Mental Health Worker: Pine Rest Christian Hospital Mission Statement:
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services is called to express the healing ministry
of Jesus Christ by providing behavioral health services with professional excellence,
Christian integrity, and compassion.
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My most significant achievement in my professional field (as a Christian evangelist
& educator)is that I have been a UNIFYING force for good amongst people of all
backgrounds, religions, beliefs, & values. Most of my experience as a professional
teacher has been in the public schools and I have also committed myself to doing my
very best for the sake of the students and have successfully brought both children &
adults together for the sake of being better &doing better. Outside of education and
the public sector I am proud of my efforts & accomplishments to reach people with
the Good News of Jesus Christ in various ways including ONLINE as well as on the
street, among other places, and continue to do so.
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5. MEMORANDUM for the PRESIDENT, VAN der KOK, Question#8
We are a NATION of IMMIGRANTS and owe a lot to all immigrants, both those
who have come recently as well as our parents & grandparents & great
grandparents, and so on !We need to make what many people consider a “problem”
into a “STRENGTH.” In fact, new people in our communities, in general, should be
considered GOOD !Sure, there are a few isolated issues & problems with the influx
of immigrants into the community, but I think we should FOCUS on the POSITIVE
and try to educate our communities about the BENEFITS of immigration.
With MORE PEOPLE we can do bigger & better things and make the USA as well
as the world a better place for everybody ! We need to train & educate our people
how to APPRECIATE the new immigrants and how to HELP them become citizens
of our great country. Most of them come here FILLED WITH HOPE and it’s a
shame if we cannot help them fulfill their dream just as our ancestors, likewise,
fulfilled their American dream as immigrants to the United States.
Therefore, I would encourage more research & education about immigration issues
as well as emphasis on promoting the POSITIVE about immigration issues, rather
than dwelling on the negative. Just from a SPIRITUAL standpoint I KNOW that
our country has always been considered a PLACE OF REFUGE for those who are
oppressed and it should ALWAYS be that WAY ! If we abandon our identity as the
LAND of the FREE and HOME of the BRAVE we abandon future prosperity. Great
civilizations only continue to be great by doing great things ! Let us NEVER forget
the lessons we learn from history of other (former) great civilizations.
As I look back on some of the things I’ve accomplished over my lifetime I realize
that a lot of what I have accomplished has NOT really been me at all. It’s been GOD
giving me opportunities that I never could have imagined in advance Back in 1990
as I was sitting in a law school classroom& about ready to leave a potential career
in law, LITTLE DID I KNOW that in a few months after leaving law school I
would find myself in Costa Rica (1991)teaching kids and guiding tourists by
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horseback through the rainforest. And LITTLE DID I KNOW that one year after
the Costa Rica experience I would be doing OUTDOOREVANGELISM in front of
large crowds in the Philippines (1992). And the story goes on… the point being that
the only thing I did was “RAISE MY SAIL” and GOD took care of blowing the
wind !
And this has NOT always been an easy path. Coming to Los Angeles in 1998 to
transfer to Fuller Seminary was NOT an easy transition. Nor has it been easy
teaching in some tough Los Angeles public schools, nor in Coachella. But then as I
said before, if I wanted “easy” I wouldn’t have even bothered going to college. And
so here I am and the question is “WHAT ARE MY LIFETIME GOALS?” And the
ANSWER is “WHATEVER GOD WANTS ME TODO.” When I pray I simply pray
“THY WILL be DONE, NOT my will.”
I can speak specifically & definitely that GOD wants ME to fulfill HIS PLANS of
making this world a better place for everybody and ultimately hopefully in so doing
enlarging the KINGDOM of HEAVEN. And I do believe that the USA has a special
mission in such regards and therefore anticipate helping to lead our great country in
fulfilling God’s great plan !
Why do I want to be a “white house fellow ?” Well, since ONLY ONE PERSON can
be President of the USA at one time, and that person is NOT me at the moment, I
suppose that at age 42I am still YOUNG ENOUGH to benefit from a new experience
such as being a Whitehouse fellow and being close to “the action.” I can WATCH &
LEARN & ASSIST while our current president and other experienced
administration officials take charge &make decisions; and in the process I can
become BETTER EQUIPPED to serve our nation and our world. As the White
House website, itself, says:
“It is essential to the healthy functioning of our system that we have in the
YES, it is essential and I WANT TO BE ready to help & assist the people of our
great country and our world which is greatly benefitted by having a first-hand
knowledge of the operations inside the White House and around the capitol. The
White House website further says:
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“In this country today, we produce a great number of skilled professionals. But too
few [emphasis added] of this intellectual elite provide the society with statesmanlike
leadership and guidance in public affairs”.
By starting “at the bottom” and learning “the ropes” from the bottom up one has
better potential to be a better leader in the future. This is also why I have found it
helpful to serve as a substitute teacher. It is NOT a glorious position but I have
learned a LOT from it and have also had a positive effect on some young peoples
lives and can apply a LOT of what I learned from working as a lowly substitute
teacher to life at large. Likewise, I imagine I could be a better president or leader of
some sort with some low level experience at the White House at this point in my life
when I am still fairly young and still mobile.
vanderKOK
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