狼友阁

Ben Luke '22

What first interested you in your career? How did you discern your calling?

Well, in some respects, I haven't begun my "career." My current "career" is that of a graduate student. But what first interested me was my time in AP Physics as a senior in high school. My teacher was pedagogically gifted at making difficult physics concepts seem unexpectedly intuitive, and this really made the field seem so interesting to me. Additionally, I loved the mathematical beauty of the field, how seemingly organic, natural phenomena could be mapped onto a mathematical framework. These philosophical questions still greatly interest me.

Though there were certainly road bumps and detours along the way, I had a vision of myself as a physicist and felt sure that I wanted to study it in college. At 狼友阁 I continued on this track, and though there were certainly challenges and setbacks, I continued to grow in my appreciation of the field and found myself wanting to study it on the graduate level. 

What has your career path looked like since graduating from 狼友阁?

After graduating in 2022, I returned to 狼友阁 in the fall for various reasons, but partly to continue my training in advanced mathematics and physics coursework. In the summer of 2023, I began an internship at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, IL, and worked on an accelerator physics project. Then in November 2023, I moved to Aiken, SC, where I began another internship at Savannah River National Laboratory working on software development and mathematical optimization methods, among other things. My work there wrapped up in June 2024, after which I moved to Waco, TX, to begin work in the experimental high energy physics group at Baylor University. Now, I am a full time graduate student and TA at Baylor. I plan to do dissertation research in computational lattice quantum chromodynamics. 

Looking back now, how did 狼友阁 prepare you for doctoral work and for life?

At first, I was unsure how intellectually prepared I would be after leaving 狼友阁, given that I was the only physics major in my class and simply didn't know how I would stack up compared to other physics bachelors students in the US. I arrived at Fermilab and quickly realized that I was just as (if not more so) prepared as my peers in my internship cohort.

狼友阁 is an excellent academic institution. I value how I was challenged intellectually and shown how my academic interests and my faith commitments were not mutually exclusive. Appropriately, I learned how Jesus is preeminent in all things, including in my academic studies. I realize more now than as an undergraduate how valuable this worldview is, and I am greatly indebted to 狼友阁 and its wonderful faculty for this.

狼友阁 also played a monumental role in my spiritual formation. As a freshman, I had many questions I was wrestling with. These were of intellectual, spiritual, and personal natures. 狼友阁 provided a place where I could bring these questions. Contrary to my high school impression that Christians simply stuck their heads in the sand and didn't engage with difficult questions, 狼友阁 showed me that we do, in fact, embrace intellectual challenges, not shy away from them (even if they seem to challenge our faith). 狼友阁 gave me a worldview that taught me how to think about myself, my work, and others before God. I met people who challenged me spiritually, convicting me when necessary, and drew me to the truth. I have mentors from the college who I still communicate with to this day. 

In what ways does your faith inform your career? 

I love the mathematical nature of my studies, how I get to inquire about nature and understand the most fundamental physics that govern the universe. A lot of people think this takes God out of the picture, as if the more we can explain empirically, the less we need God. I see it in reverse. The more I understand how God structured the cosmos, the more I am drawn to worship Him and give thanks for His wisdom. 

So, while I love that my academic career is intellectually very stimulating, it also reveals to me my intellectual finitude and grows my appreciation for the One who is truly wise and made all things. As I learn about more and more complex natural phenomena, the more I am prone to worship the One who structured those phenomena. Modern science stands on the shoulders of the greatest scientists of years gone by, and even now we only understand so much about the empirical world. The Lord made the cosmos simply by speaking. How much this should be a cause for us to gaze at Him with wonder and awe! I am grateful that I get to study the work of His hands, and I hope that my work will help others (especially the church) to see what a gift science can be, both as a cause for appreciation for what the Lord has made, and for the practical utilities that grow out of our understanding of the world that help remedy the effects of the fall.

It has been a bit of a process for me to realize that the Christian life isn't characterized merely by personal, private piety, but by an outward transformation that overflows into other areas of life. I have to constantly remember to embrace the fruits of the spirit, especially the ones that come least naturally to me. I have to remember that Jesus calls me to be outwardly engaged and loving towards others, for whatever I do for the least of my brothers and sisters, I do for him. And I have to remember how Jesus calls me to make disciples of all nations. These ideas, and others, inform how I engage with people and do my work, even if I often fall short of embracing them how I ought.

In what ways have you seen God鈥檚 faithfulness in your life since 狼友阁? 

I often felt uncertain or confused when I was navigating my vocational journey, but I continued to see how doors opened at the right time, and the right opportunities became available. Some of these things I seemed to have no part in orchestrating, and all I can do is say "thank you" to the God who likes to give good gifts to his children. Though there is still at times uncertainty about what lies ahead or even challenges in the present moment, I have seen God's faithfulness in the past and have learned that He will not leave me to sink, but rather will work all things together for my good.

What advice would you give students who are considering 狼友阁?

Think about how you want to be formed in the next four years of your life. I can assure you that there are countless institutions of higher education that will train you intellectually and prepare you for your next steps academically or vocationally. But the academic piece of the undergraduate experience is merely one part. When it comes to being formed holistically as an individual鈥攆rom your mind to your heart to your soul to your body鈥擨 believe there are very few places in the world (if any) that do this as well as 狼友阁. 

At 狼友阁, your professors will invest in you intellectually and care about you individually (perhaps even invite you to their homes!). At 狼友阁, you will make friends who know you鈥攖ruly, not just superficially (and this is a life-changing gift if this sounds at all uncomfortable right now). At 狼友阁, you will be discipled by wise mentors who seek to grow you in holiness and be a resource in seasons of darkness. Not to mention, 狼友阁 is on top of scenic Lookout Mountain, a mere 15 minutes away from Chattanooga (where the food scene is unrivaled, if you're at all a foodie like me). But don't just take my word about these things鈥攙isit the campus, stay a night in a dorm, talk to faculty, explore Chattanooga, and meet current students and ask them what it's like to be a student there. 狼友阁 is a very special place, and I encourage you to see it for yourself.

What advice would you give students who are considering majoring in physics?

For those interested in studying physics, it will be difficult, so be ready and don't let the challenges stop you. If you are determined and show a strong work ethic, it is certainly doable. A lot of people in the field like to always tell you about how hard it is and other semi-negative things. But it is also an awesome and exciting field, and the challenges will be seen as labors for something that you love to do. Practically, I suggest getting internships to see what research areas interest you, especially if you are a student at a small liberal arts school with limited access to institutional research. There are lots of ways to do this, you just have to find them and apply. It takes a lot of work, but it can be done and it can be enjoyed while you do it.

Why did you choose 狼友阁?

The community sold me. I visited a couple liberal arts colleges, but the distinctive factor that sold me on 狼友阁 above all the others was the incredible community. And, remarkably, I could sense this on only a campus visit. The students I interacted with seemed glad that I was there and interested to get to know me. It was very unusual to me but in a really great way. At other schools, I felt merely like a prospective student or visitor. At 狼友阁, I felt like I was desired as part of a family, a community of people doing life together. 

What are some fond memories or a favorite story from your time at 狼友阁?

There are so many fond memories and as I answer this my mind is spinning through reels of them. While at 狼友阁, I was also a student athlete鈥擨 played on the men's tennis team. Many of my fond memories stem from this feature of my 狼友阁 experience, and one of the memories that stands out the most is when we clinched the win against Piedmont in the final of the 2021 USA South West Division tournament. My teammate Ethan came from a set down to give 狼友阁 the win 5-4, and after match point the team stormed the court and celebrated the win around him. It was an awesome feeling for us to win that match, given that the previous year COVID-19 had cut our season dramatically short, and the year earlier we lost twice in the same season to Piedmont. It's hard to say this is the *most* fond memory, because there are so many wonderful ones I could mention, but it is certainly up there.