Latin

I grew up on a farm and ranch in the rural west Texas Panhandle where I had the privilege of experiencing the full spectrum of country life: from big skies and glorious sunsets to driving tractors and hauling hay (though my younger brothers claim, being the only girl, I never contributed my fair share). I was raised by two wonderful parents who taught me never to fear hard work, always be willing to do what is right, have a curiosity for the world around me, serve others, and, above all, the importance of a relationship with God. My childhood was blessed by the small town hospitality and supportive people of Spearman, Texas, where I received my education from pre-school through 12th grade. From a young age, I was involved in many activities that taught me the value of teamwork, sportsmanship, and a strong work ethic. Throughout my school years, I participated in gymnastics, swim team, basketball, softball, cross country, track, cheerleading, UIL academics, student council and National Honor Society.

After graduating from high school, I knew that I wanted to take the next step in my life with a purpose and vision rather than walking aimlessly toward what society had deemed the next appropriate stage in an 18-year-old’s life. History and reading any book I could get my hands on were my two favorite academic pursuits; thus, I decided a liberal arts school was the best choice for me. My mom and dad first introduced me to the idea of Hillsdale; my dad was aware of Hillsdale’s virtuous and academic reputation and my mom, being a Michigander herself, loved the idea of me attending school in her home state. After reading about Hillsdale’s Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian tradition, the incredible student-professor ratio, and seeing the picturesque campus clock tower on the website, I was hooked. Without ever stepping foot on campus, I made the decision to attend Hillsdale the fall after my senior year of high school.

I love the people. The student-professor ratio is such that, if you have the inclination, you can really get to know your teachers. You’ll find that they truly care about your growth and development not only on an academic level, but also as a person. The students here are friendly, caring, hardworking, and honest. It never ceases to amaze me that I can absentmindedly leave my laptop lying in the library for hours and come back with the assurance that it will undoubtedly still be there. The friends that I have made here are true kindred spirits and I continually find myself blessed by their presence.

My plans mostly consist in being as prepared as possible for whatever God has planned for my life. The beauty of an education at Hillsdale is that it is designed to make students better individuals, not only in our future careers but also as the sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends that we are. After graduation, I would like to continue my education by going to graduate school to get my master's degree in history and from there, I’m open to whatever possibilities present themselves.

While at Hillsdale, I have had the privilege to experience many aspects of campus life. Employed as a mailroom monitor, I have one of the more rewarding jobs on campus by being the deliverer of care packages and letters from home. I am a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority where I have been blessed by the influence of women I have come to love and respect. I also am on the Charger cheerleading squad, a part of Students for Life, through which I had the opportunity to attend the March for Life rally in Washington, D.C., last year and plan to attend again this year, and have been blessed by my involvement in Pine Ridge Bible Church. From playing intramural sports to babysitting professors’ kids, my experiences at Hillsdale have been rewarding and deeply impactful.

I love how involved Hillsdale professors are. They encourage you to come to office hours, get to know students by eating lunch with them in Saga, invite whole classes to their houses for dinner, and graciously provide homes away from home to college kids during the holidays. I love watching Dr. Smith and his throng of kids playing ping pong in the union and hearing Dr. Moore energetically explain why we should have a statue of Alexander Hamilton along with the four other historical masterminds currently residing on campus. Each of the professors I have been privileged to take has left his mark on my college experience in that they have taught, as Professor Westblade urged on my first day of Western Religion, to “see the familiar, see home, as a brand-new place.”

The core classes I have taken at Hillsdale have helped me see the world with new eyes. I’ve learned that history can tell us more about the present than I thought possible, reading Homer and Shakespeare can be a treasure rather than a dreaded chore, and that chemistry and physics, regardless of my bias going into it, have an important role to play in a liberal arts education. What I love best about the core is the way each and every class can be tied to another because they all contribute to a common goal: the betterment and education of a human being.

bpittman@hillsdale.edu