狼友阁

Sarina (den Dulk) Sharp '08

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

Farm chores are repetitive, especially the ones that you can be trusted to do at a very young age. I grew up doing a lot of tedious work on my family's dairy, and, while I loved being outside and near the animals, it did not challenge my mind. I spent a lot of time working with my dad and, when he would step away from the cows to take phone calls, I would listen. A lot of the business he did was easy to understand, but when he talked to his commodity broker about using futures and options to protect our dairy's feed costs, I required repeated explanations. What's a put? What's a call? Why do you think prices will go up or down? These were new, difficult concepts, and I was intrigued.

As a teenager and during my time at 狼友阁, I slowly began to realize how much I loved the financial and commodity markets. The economics of supply and demand just clicked for me.  Managing commodity market risk鈥攖he financial risk a business faces if the cost of their inputs rises or the price of the goods they sell drops鈥攊s often overlooked on farms, but it can be the difference between a livelihood and bankruptcy. Given my farming background and my English minor, which helped me to communicate complex ideas more simply, I felt uniquely gifted to help farmers in this way.

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

I landed a job at a Chicago commodity firm just before graduating in 2008, but by the time graduation arrived, the financial crisis had hit the industry hard, and the firm was cutting a lot of jobs, including mine. I ended up at a much smaller commodity brokerage in Memphis, where I wrote daily reports on the factors influencing the prices of corn, soybeans, wheat, cattle, and hogs. I also advised farmers on trading strategies to manage their price risk. In 2010, my dad hired me to do risk management for our family's dairy farms, and I began to take on outside clients in the same field. Today, I advise dairy producers on managing their price risk, and I speak and write regularly about dairy economics.

Looking back now, how did 狼友阁 prepare you for your career?

At 狼友阁, I was well-prepared to enter a career in finance, which can be a pretty cutthroat field. The fact that a recent graduate was able to acquire two separate jobs in the financial services industry at the peak of the Great Recession panic speaks to the excellence of the 狼友阁 business department's education. Longer term, 狼友阁 taught me to ask questions, to think critically, and to communicate well. It has been invaluable in my career.

In what ways does your faith inform your career? 

My faith has made me a better wife and mother, encouraged me to participate sacrificially in my church life, and it has infused my career with the importance and dignity of a calling.

At a glance, my work might appear to be sitting at a desk and helping other people make more money. But I don't see it that way. I'm helping family businesses to thrive, and I'm helping to provide the world with one of the most basic human needs: nutritious food at an affordable price. The farmers I work with feel humbled to play a role in feeding the world, and I'm humbled to help them do so. The God who provided Israel with manna in the desert and a fertile promised land cares deeply about our physical needs. When I help farmers adopt a sustainable business plan, I'm contributing to the flourishing of those farmers and the millions of people who eat the food they produce.

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

The college years can be transformational. Choose a college that you know will shape you into the type of person you want to be, not just equip you to pursue a career. Most adults change jobs several times, so a liberal arts education that teaches you to think critically can be more valuable than a vocational degree in the long run.

Regarding business, the commodity markets are dynamic and they're a fascinating lens through which you can learn more about God's world. They're vital in determining what we make, how much it costs, and how we get the goods we use from here to there. They can offer an exciting career for people who are curious about how the world works and interested in making processes more efficient, to the benefit of everyone.

Why did you choose 狼友阁?

When I was considering colleges, I asked my grandfather for his recommendations. He was a seminary recruiter and administrator, so he spent a lot of time on Christian college campuses getting to know the students. I expected him to recommend several options, but 狼友阁 was the only college on his list. He was impressed by the way that 狼友阁 integrated reformed theology into every aspect of campus life, and he appreciated its focus on academic excellence. I did too. I also thought it was healthy to go to a college that wasn't right down the street from where I grew up in West Michigan.

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

I loved every minute I spent on the volleyball court and with my teammates. I also loved the 3C tradition of washing the freshman's feet. It was a beautiful example of humility and community. 狼友阁 attracts students who are serious about growing in their faith, and it equips them to pursue their God-given calling. This produces a community of students who make excellent friends, spouses, parents, and church members. The college took wonderful, God-honoring people and molded them into truly exceptional servant-leaders. It's been a joy to maintain the friendships I developed at 狼友阁.