Robby Van Riet started his college experience like any other student, but when a medical challenge changed his course, his determination and Elon helped him ‘surf the waves,’ rather than ‘change the current.’
Christophe Robert Van Riet ’25, known affectionately as “Robby” to friends, didn’t expect to be graduating from Elon University with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a minor in art. One, because he came to Elon as a business major, and two, because he faced a serious medical setback that could have derailed his entire academic career.
“Graduating is such a surreal experience, and I feel really proud and fortunate that everything was able to work out the way it did,” said Van Riet. “It wasn’t easy, but it makes me feel like anything is possible if you give it a good shot.”
‘Philosophically curious’
Van Riet, who is from Dover, Massachusetts, originally wanted to study business after being inspired by his father’s work running a chocolate company. Then, at the beginning of his second year, he took a philosophy course that sparked his interest.
“I was super interested in being able to talk to other people about different questions, and I was very philosophically curious about the way the world worked,” said Van Riet. “And I felt that people didn’t really ask a lot of the questions that I’ve always been wondering.”
But when Van Riet went home for winter break, a health concern led to an extensive surgery, but he didn’t stop his work at Elon. Lauren Guilmette, associate professor of philosophy, created an independent study during Winter Term to help keep him on track.
“She did an existential philosophy course, which was really helpful for me at the time because when I was amidst all this, facing my mortality and having such a crazy experience where I feel like I could have almost died, I’m realizing how valuable human life is,” said Van Riet.
Guilmette says Van Riet was already an exceptional student in her “Ancient Philosophy” course, so it was an honor to help him with the Winter Term course.
“It was among the most profound teaching experiences I have had to read these texts with Robby as he thoughtfully and bravely worked through them, making artworks as well as writing short reflections in response to questions that can be daunting even when one is in good health,” said Guilmette. “I admired how Robby worked through this very difficult moment in his own life, and I am proud and delighted for him to be now graduating from Elon.”
The stars aligned
After Winter Term, Van Riet was required to spend time in the hospital, forcing him to take a pause at Elon. He came out on the other side still determined to graduate with the Class of 2025 – but majoring in philosophy.
“The stars aligned and it came to be,” he said. “Philosophy is really what helped me get through a lot of things.”
Van Riet says he found strength in Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations and the works of French existentialists, such as Sartre and Camus.
“Sartre’s quote, ‘man is nothing more than his plan,’ really became something I lived by,” said Van Riet. “It helped me believe that even in moments of uncertainty, I could still choose action, purpose and direction. That mindset helped me do things I once thought were impossible or that others might’ve thought were.”
Even after his hospital stay, Van Riet still needed to travel to Boston once per month to see his doctors, and Elon’s Study USA program made it possible. During his third year, Van Riet participated in the Elon in New York program, where he could easily travel back to Boston for treatment.
“I really loved just being in such an iconic city and the grandeur of the city, how everything was so electric and fast moving,” said Van Riet. “It felt really nice to be somewhere where everybody was doing something cool.”
While Van Riet still has his mind set on the business world after graduation, he also wants to explore his creative side. He was recently accepted to TAPIF (Teaching Assistant Program in France), through which he will be teaching English for seven months in the country, one he felt drawn to after studying French existentialists.
“You can’t control everything, but the things you can control are the things you should focus on,” said Van Riet of his time at Elon. “Don’t try to change the current, but you can always learn to surf the waves.”