When Taylor Drent first stepped onto campus at Dordt University, she didn't know much about the school.

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It wasn't a lifelong dream or a carefully mapped-out plan. In fact, it started with something much simpler: a college visit.

"I honestly didn't know that much about Dordt," Drent said. "We were just kind of school shopping."

Her dad, a baseball coach at Morningside, was familiar with the GPAC and knew Dordt had a strong reputation. That was enough reason to schedule a visit. What began as a casual stop quickly became something more meaningful.

"We came on a visit and I talked to both the volleyball and basketball coaches," she said. "I didn't think much of it at first, but I just fell in love."

It wasn't only the athletics that stood out. From admissions to the people she met around campus, Drent immediately felt welcomed.

"The people here are so great at what they do," she said. "You feel so welcome and you feel at home."

For Drent, that feeling eventually became something deeper.

"I really felt like this is where Christ was calling me to go," she said.

Four years later, that decision has shaped both her career path and her college experience.

Now in her final semester, Drent is finishing a demanding nursing program. It's a path she chose because it blended science with her desire to work directly with people.

"I debated between nursing and going the biology route," she said. "But with nursing you can do a lot with the same knowledge, and it's much more hands-on."

That hands-on learning was exactly what she was looking for.

"I really like the labs and the clinicals and learning the nursing skills," she said. "I knew I wanted to care for people."

Senior year might appear lighter on paper, but the reality is a busy and demanding schedule.

"We technically only have class twice a week," Drent said. "But there are trade-offs. We have multiple labs and clinical shifts that we schedule ourselves, especially in the spring semester. There's a lot of time outside of class."

That work has already led to the next step. After graduation, Drent will begin working locally in the operating room as a circulating nurse.

"I knew that was kind of what I wanted to do," she said. "This will be a good stepping stone, and I'd eventually like to go back to school down the road."

Through her clinical experiences, Drent says one lesson stands out.

"No two people are alike," she said.

Working with patients has shown her how unique every individual and situation can be.

"You can have patient rooms right next to each other and they're totally different situations," she said. "Seeing how God created everyone so uniquely and individually is really amazing."

It's a perspective she says will stay with her long after she leaves campus.

While nursing has prepared Drent for her future career, basketball has been an equally important part of her Dordt experience.

Over four seasons, she has experienced nearly every role possible within the program.

"I've kind of been in every position," she said. "I played JV, reserve, started getting varsity minutes, and eventually evolved to where I am now."

Through all of it, one word comes to mind when she reflects on her career.

"Joy."

"It has been such a joyful ride," she said. "I couldn't imagine doing it without the teammates I've had."

Those relationships, she says, are what make the program special.

"They're all my best friends," Drent said. "That's basketball aside. When you get to do something you all love together, it really amplifies those relationships."

One of her toughest moments came when she was sidelined with an injury last season. The experience changed how she viewed the game.

"People always say you don't appreciate what you have until it's gone," she said. "That was definitely true."

Watching from the sideline helped her realize just how much she loved being on the court.

"You miss it so much," she said. "Cheering everyone on is great, but it's not the same."

As she reflects on her four years at Dordt, Drent says the biggest changes in her life are the kind you only notice when looking back.

"I think I've changed a lot," she said. "This community is faith-based and everyone cares about you personally. Your teachers, your coaches, your teammates."

That environment, she says, encourages growth.

"Everyone kind of feeds off each other," Drent said. "I think I've become a better person and learned so many life lessons here that I can take with me."

Soon, Drent will move into the next chapter of life. She will begin her nursing career, continue planning a wedding with her fiancé, and close the book on her college basketball career.

But the place she once knew very little about has now become one of the most important parts of her story.

All because of one campus visit that felt like home.