William Wanané
Current Role
Medical Student at Universitas Pelita Harapan
Major
Health Science, 2013
What’s one thing that surprised you about Corban?
I was quite surprised when I learned that biblical studies were equally important in my Health Sciences major.
What about Corban specifically prepared you for this next step in your journey?
There were many things that Corban helped me to achieve during my four-year stay. Chief among them was to be curious in learning—not because I had to pass the classes but to really understand the values that the classes offered pertaining to my future career as a medical professional. I had my fair share of doubts when it came to positioning science in my faith as a believer. But as I went through my years at Corban, I was given the chance to be introduced to scientific knowledge that added depth to my perspective about my faith. I believe that I am a stronger believer now because of the knowledge I received during my undergrad years.
What’s one thing you would want to tell someone starting their journey at Corban?
I would tell them that they should be open and ready (as well as mindful) when it comes to experiencing new things. May it be a midnight run to the nearby TacoBell to get cheap tacos, joining the choir even if you don’t know how to read music notes (I did and still can’t read them!), sharing a table with your professors at the dining hall, or even chugging root beer and eating pancakes at the Lumberjack games.
Who is one professor who had a strong influence on your development? Can you give an example?
Looking back, I remember the first time I met him in Biology I. I was so nervous because my English was so-so, but my head was full of questions. He introduced himself and asked if I was one of the Indonesian students. He knew that I was trying my best to understand what he was explaining. He took the time to know his students. And this was not just for me, an Indonesian student; anyone who has taken his class knows for sure that he cares about his students. His name is Mr. Jerry Johnson. I grew to love science even more because I sat in his classes for four years observing how passionate he was about the subjects he taught. He took time to write back our emails, he made podcasts so we wouldn’t miss his lectures, and most importantly for me, he helped me have a better perspective of science as a Christian. So for your genuine care and passions, I want to say that it was an honor for me to be one of your students, Mr. Johnson. Thank you.
How were faith, leadership, and ethics woven into your courses? How did those elements prepare you for life, regardless of where you work?
I believe there is a substantial amount of responsibility that comes with acquired knowledge. One of the courses that really challenged me to think critically about my faith was Christian Theology. I was challenged to discover the biblical basis of what I believed. The practices of fact-checking my ways of thinking are still applicable now in my daily life. Whenever I have to make a decision, may it be hard or easy, I try to always take time and check my basis. Am I on the right track? Spending time with the professors in various classes at Corban really helped me to be more systematic in solving problems as well as being responsible with the knowledge that I have.