Randi Block

Randi Block Pursues Sciences and Her Other Loves at Hillsdale

Written by Breana Noble

A liberal arts college might not always sound like the type of place where a student interested in the sciences should enroll. For freshman Randi Block, though, who wants to become a doctor, Hillsdale has provided incredible opportunities for her to pursue all of her passions.

Recently, Randi had the opportunity to go to Hillsdale’s G.H. Gordon Biological Station in northern lower Michigan, four hours from the main campus.

“It was a real cool way to meet a whole bunch of awesome, sciencey people,” Randi said.

The retreat included a botany walk, paddle boarding on the nearby Rockwell Lake, a canoe trip, and collecting swamp gas at night and then lighting it on fire to create “breathtaking” colors.

“Just bonding with the students was worth it, even the ridiculously long car drive,” Randi said.

Randi has also gotten involved with the Pre-Medical Society, which is an organization that helps students prepare for medical school and fill out their applications.

“We meet up with different mentors, different people who have or who are already applying to med school,” Randi said. “They can help you. It’s a way that teachers and students can help you get your best foot forward on your applications and prepare you.”

Although Randi is eager to major in biology, she admits that her favorite class is currently Chemistry 101.

“I’ve been really liking all the different demos,” Randi explained. “’Oh, let’s just blow something up or light something on fire or do this cool thing with magnets.’ It’s actually really interesting.”

While science is an important part of her life, Randi likes that Hillsdale also satisfies her other interests. She enjoys having the option to taking French classes while also being able to pursue a Biology major.

“Classes like Western Heritage that you need to take, they’re normally not classes required of math and science people,” Randi said. “But that’s half of what brought me here. Hillsdale’s core is very inclusive. Just because you are going to be a doctor or scientist doesn’t mean you shouldn’t know these things about the world. If you don’t, you aren’t going to be a better individual. You aren’t going to better fulfill your good.”

On her Western Heritage class, Randi said, “I’ve never read any of [the] works. I feel so naïve. Every day I pretty much leave the class, and say, ‘Oh my goodness! I’m so much smarter now!’ The classes have been challenging, but not so much that I can’t do it, which is right where I hoped it would be.”

Randi has also discovered many extracurricular activities. Through Hillsdale’s Ballroom Dance Club and Hepcats Swing Club, she has learned how to cha-cha, waltz, salsa, and swing without any previous dance experience. Randi also participated in the Marine Challenge hosted by the Student Activities Board. Students did intensive athletic exercises with actual Marines coaching them that included pull-ups, lunges, and an obstacle course.

“That was a lot more fun than I expected. I think I can still feel it in my calves,” Randi said.

Every week, Randi also volunteers at a local preschool, helping with different activities like dress-up, playing with dolls, reading books, and singing songs.

“So much of college is just go, go, go,” Randi said. “It’s a real nice time to go to preschool once a week to play with the kids and learn your ABCs all over again.”

Randi admits she was surprised to find so many activities available to students, since Hillsdale is a small college.

“There’s always something to do. I expected it to be much more closed off or boring,” Randi explained. “You’re not really defined by your grade or your major or anything. You’re more just you. There’s a mix of wonderful people who all like to do wonderful things together. It’s such a tight community. I cannot walk to the dining hall without seeing somebody I know. I’ve made a lot of friends, and even some who already feel like sisters.”

Although the familial community at Hillsdale is Randi’s favorite aspect of the college, she also admits that it has its disadvantages.

“Time management is the hardest part,” Randi said. “Finding a balance between friends and all the crazy things that are happening here, and also shoving school in there. My least favorite part is that there are so many people that I know and love. The fact that there is so much going on; as wonderful as it is, it’s almost kind of horrible. ‘Leave me alone for five minutes!’”

However, Randi believes that is still important for her to be an active member in the campus community.

“It’s hard to justify staying in your room,” Randi said. “Life is about a lot more than your job. If you just go through life worrying about the next test, the next obligation, you’re going to miss so much. If you leave here without getting involved on campus, you’re also going to leave here with nothing but a degree. That’s not the most valuable thing you can take from here.”


Breana Noble is a freshman at Hillsdale College with a desire to study Politics and Journalism.  She is writing for “The Collegian” newspaper at Hillsdale and works as an assistant in the Hillsdale College Athletics office.  Breana is also involved in swing dancing, the Young Americans for Freedom, the College Republicans and the Nest Bible Study.