Children's Spiritual Development Coordinator, New Hope Uganda Ministries, Inc.

I was born in an African village to American missionary parents, and had the privilege of spending most of my childhood in Uganda. (California and Washington state were “home” when we were in the U.S.) Life in Africa provided some exciting times such as white-water rafting on the Nile, being baptized in Lake Victoria, being held at gunpoint for an hour two separate times, and being born in a country that no longer exists! I was homeschooled throughout most of my childhood, graduated from high school in British Columbia, and graduated from Hillsdale in 2001. Since Hillsdale, I taught 5th grade in Colorado Springs for two years, and have worked in Uganda for six years with New Hope Uganda. There, I have had the amazing privilege of helping raise orphaned and destitute children and love them with the love of their Heavenly Father. In addition to caring for children, while working in Uganda I wrote and published a book in 2006 called The Long Road to Hope, the story of my childhood and the work my parents started in Uganda.

I learned to love to learn, and to want to be constantly learning. I learned the truth of the Hillsdale cliche that “ideas have consequences,” and was always challenged to see how my thoughts, convictions, and ideas could and should affect how I live. I also came to highly value a liberal arts education because of how it prepares one not only for the specific skills he will one day need in a job setting, but with the ability to reason and bring right thought and truth to new situations.

Make the most of all the classes you can! Your four years at college are a once-in-lifetime opportunity to learn and grow. Although I don’t miss the deadlines and tests, I do miss learning and having my mind stretched every day! Take lots of history classes even if you aren’t a history major—they are amazing! Take Dr. Westblade’s Intro to Religion and Old Testament classes, if at all possible. Get to know the professors not just as teachers, but as friends and mentors. I could go on and on!

I loved its philosophy on education, its conservative political stand, its commitment to excellence, and how it equips one for more than just a job—but for life. I also loved the small professor-student ratio and how the professors didn’t just pass on knowledge; they cared about students individually.

It helped me to rise above my fears and feelings of inadequacy and be willing to step into difficult situations with at least some confidence! The solid academic foundation I gained there enabled me to be a better teacher. My English and history classes helped me learn to write and research better, enabling me to write and publish a book—something I’d never dreamed of doing!

My fondest memories are of the Civil War Battlefield trips I took with some of my Hillsdale friends. We planned our trip around specific battle sites we had researched, planned our meals and what we were going to learn and do on the way, and piled into as few cars as we could to make it cost effective! I’ll never forget those trips! The friends I made during my time at Hillsdale are also one of the “highlights” of my Hillsdale experience. Many of them are still my closest friends today. They made my time at Hillsdale something I will always be thankful for!

jennie@elevateonline.com