Feature Story
Embracing Detours and Life’s Opportunities with Chad and Crystal Hirschi
On Sept. 5, the Southern Virginia University campus community gathered in the Knight Arena to hear from Chad and Crystal Hirschi, the owners and founders of Hirschi Companies, where they shared their story of creating the company, embracing detours in life, and jumping at opportunities.
Relating to the difficulties of accepting life’s unexpected detours, Crystal shared how before she met Chad, she had planned to graduate college, have a career, write stories, and travel the world. After they were married, she put her plans on pause when she found out they were expecting their first child. Nervous about the sudden change in their life, she found peace during her first ultrasound.
“It was as if God lifted the veil from my eyes when I saw that baby on the screen, and I truly knew my son, not as a mother as her child, but as God knows him,” said Crystal. “The love was overwhelming. I knew my son, his existence was eternal, and he was loved more than I could ever comprehend. I realized that God had given me the greatest gift and had entrusted me with His beloved son. Due to that detour in my life, I became a better person. I became the person God intended me to be.”
Now the parents of three children and several grandchildren, Crystal reflected on how she was still able to live out her initial life plans, just not in the way she had expected, now having the opportunity to work alongside Chad, write children’s stories, travel for nonprofit organizations, and pursue a degree in finance later in life.
“God knew my desires, and he continued to grant me them over time,” said Crystal. “He has fulfilled many of my dreams, goals, and hearts desires, and I continue to brace life’s detours, trusting that the Lord knows where I need to be. My life hasn’t unfolded exactly as I planned, but I continue to set goals and plan while trusting in the detours.”
Speaking on taking advantage of opportunities even when the path seems unclear, Chad shared his experience of starting his own masonry business after the company he worked for closed down as a result of the recession of 2008, and the struggles that came with it.
“As you get out into the world and get out into life, you quickly go through these chapters where you think to yourself that it’s got to get a little easier. It’s got to smooth out. But what you learn is, it actually doesn’t necessarily get easier or smooth out,” said Chad. “What you do is you just learn to handle hard things well. That comes through lessons, that comes through wisdom, and that comes through experience. But you ultimately learn to handle hard things well, which is a valuable thing.”
In addition to founding and leading Hirschi Companies, which encompasses masonry, trucking, iron, and powder coating, Chad and Crystal also founded Hirschi Helping Hands, which focuses on workforce development through education and opportunity, as well as service through various nonprofits both within the community and internationally.
“SVU’s mission is to gather, to lift, and to launch,” said Chad. “The Christ-like humility I’ve witnessed here has created a culture unlike any I’ve seen, a culture of lifting one another as you prepare to launch into your future, your careers, and your lives. So when opportunity and detours come your way, handle hard well and step through the doors with faith.”
The forum opened with student Ezekiel Gonzales singing “The Impossible Dream” accompanied by Professor Hyrum Arnesen, and ended with the traditional singing of “Love One Another.”