Curiosity Meets Calling
Nia Hoekstra comes from a family of Dordt alumni. “My parents met at Dordt, my grandma was in the second graduating class, and much of my extended family attended Dordt,” she says.
Ultimately, however, it was her interest in a robust nursing program and well-rounded college experience that led her to Dordt. For Hoekstra, it was important that her college experience allowed her to explore all of her interests. “I was confident I could reasonably do nursing and other activities at Dordt,” she explains. “Other schools didn't give me that confidence.”
Through personal experiences with the healthcare system and a growing fascination with high school classes in anatomy and physiology, she felt drawn toward the field of nursing. She even became a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in high school, gaining hands-on experience and further solidifying her interest in nursing as a career.
For Hoekstra, one of the most impactful components of Dordt’s nursing program has been simulation learning. In Dordt’s simulation labs, students get to work on real-world scenarios with skilled nursing faculty, receiving immediate feedback regarding what went well and what could be improved.
“It gives us a chance to practice real skills in a safe environment where no real patients are at risk,” Hoekstra explains. “We don't get to see everything in clinical, so simulation allows us to see and practice the things we are actively talking about in class.”
Hoekstra describes herself as a “busy bee”: “I just can't sit still,” she jokes. She began college with a minor in the Kuyper Honors Program and quickly became captivated by interdisciplinary learning. “I've loved being pushed to pursue opportunities to develop my personal interests,” she says. Her coursework not only deepened existing interests but also sparked new ones, leading her to add a psychology minor after taking a psychopathology class.
That variety, Hoekstra believes, will also ultimately strengthen her work as a nurse. “The psychology minor has also given me a broader perspective on patient care and a unique perspective for the holistic care of my patients,” she says.
Additionally, Hoekstra’s academic curiosity led her into undergraduate research and publication. “We were discussing Alzheimer's disease in Psychopathology when the idea of cognitive reserve sparked my interest,” she explains. “If there was a way to delay symptom onset in the disease process, so much quality time could be had with aging family members and friends.”
After further research on Alzheimer’s disease and its modifiable risk factors, along with encouragement from Dordt psychology professor Dr. Bruce Vermeer, Hoekstra pursued publication, earning KHP credit along the way.
“It has been amazing to see how Sioux Center supports Dordt students. Being a student at Dordt makes you part of a community both on and off campus."
“This summer, I learned from the International Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences that my paper, ‘Maximizing Cognitive Function through Activity,’ will undergo three anonymous peer reviews and is slated for publication in their July 2026 edition,” she says.
Hoekstra is grateful for the support received throughout the research and publication process. “Professors helped me process my findings, reference librarians guided me in finding and citing reputable sources, and tutors and friends checked my grammar and clarity.”
Outside the classroom, Hoekstra is involved in the wind symphony, clarinet choir, and Defender Band. After discovering a passion for swing dance, Hoekstra led the on-campus club for several years. In addition, Hoekstra participates in the Faith and Science Club, helped found the nursing club, and balances three on-campus jobs as a Production Arts shift leader, academic tutor, and theology department teaching assistant.
“I have found that Dordt teaches so much more than the major you choose — I've learned how to time manage, lead, and chase opportunities I could never have anticipated,” Hoekstra says.
Her time at Dordt hasn’t been without its challenges. She recalls how, during the spring semester of her junior year, she had to handle a difficult course load in nursing, ending the semester feeling burnt out. However, when she returned for the fall semester of her senior year, she felt “surrounded with support” and found that things had changed.
“I had a whole team of swing dance leaders to help me with events, I was being asked to go on adventures by both old and new friends, and our nursing courses transitioned to applying all the knowledge we had been working to build the last three years,” she says.
The ups and downs over the years have taught her the importance of rest. “I've learned to take time from my busy schedule to rest, making the busyness a little less hectic and the spontaneous adventures a bit more manageable.”
Beyond campus, Hoekstra has been deeply impacted by Dordt’s surrounding community. “It has been amazing to see how Sioux Center supports Dordt students.” From church ministries to local businesses and packed crowds at performances and games, “being a student at Dordt makes you part of a community both on and off campus,” Hoekstra says.
As she looks ahead, Hoekstra holds her future with open hands. “I don't quite know yet exactly where I'll end up, but God has a plan,” she says. And she is confident that her studies, community, and faith formed at Dordt have equipped her well for His plans.