I’m a local kid and a graduate of Hillsdale High School. Despite the fact that my mother attended Hillsdale College, I am the only of her three children to continue her legacy here. In high school, I participated heavily in musical theatre and choir, as well as acting as president of both Student Body Council and National Honor Society. At Hillsdale, I’m an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, a Student Ambassador, a freshman mentor, an assistant to the Marketing Office, and a former participant in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. I also participate in the Tower Players and Hillsdale College Chorale.

I had always planned on attending a large state school, and was headed to just such a place. As the summer following my senior year passed, however, I found myself uneasy with the thought of a grand public education. My graduating class was compiled of 114 students, and I had always appreciated the personal attention I received from my high school’s faculty. It wasn’t until the August before college started that I truly became mature enough to understand the value of self-government. I wanted to go to a place where I would be held personally responsible for my academic performance and accountable for my social endeavors. I realized that I wanted to go to a place where I could truly develop lasting friendships and relationships, rather than make passing acquaintances. I transferred from the state school before ever even attending and ended up right back in the city where I started.

I appreciate the extraordinary student body at Hillsdale above all else. Hillsdale students are nauseatingly involved in every sort of extra-curricular, excel in athletics and arts, and are actively engaged in their educations. I love overhearing discussions in the union concerning Churchill, and debates in the cafeteria about the cost and benefit of a diet of ice cream.

I plan to travel and eventually attend graduate school. I’d like to pursue a degree that will lead to a career in academic administration.

Over fall break of my sophomore year I stayed with a roommate and friend I’d had since freshman year. We decided to relax one night and watch movies. It started simply enough, but after sitting through “What Dreams May Come,” we found ourselves discussing the film’s allusions to Dante’s “Inferno” as well as its trueness to the reality of Christianity and biblical descriptions of the afterlife. It wasn’t until we were interrupted by a text from another friend that we realized we’d been holding a critical analysis much like that of any freshman Great Books course.

In recalling any of my past professors, I immediately cite Dr. Brad Birzer. Not only is his voice lyrical and engaging, but his general excitement for education and the material over which he lectures is entirely intoxicating. I came to Hillsdale hating history and left his Western Heritage course with the second highest grade in the class. He’s also just so genuine in all of his interactions. I remember going away to work the summer following my freshman year, and when I returned to campus, he greeted me warmly and expressed interest in my summer’s events even though I was no longer his student and it had been over a year since I’d last seen him. Dr. Birzer will always be my favorite professor, despite the fact that I’m an English major and he’s a history professor.

Hillsdale has made me a confident, poised, and proud woman. I feel assured walking into any conversation that I will have something intelligent to contribute. The liberal arts have given me such a rounded and unique education. The core is undeniably strenuous, but it truly stretches each Hillsdale student to develop into the best they can be.

skittleson@hillsdale.edu