Why I Chose Hillsdale: Michael Hoggatt
What is education? As a high school student in a college preparatory program touring schools first with my older siblings and then for my own college search, admission to prestigious universities was really the only goal I had in mind for my next educational step. As application deadlines drew near, I was listlessly wandering, hardly astonished by any of the schools I had considered. None of them seemed to be asking that first question—What is education?—except for one about which I had heard relatively little.
My mother handed me a trifold pamphlet entitled Imprimis, and her message was clear: check out Hillsdale College. I hate to admit that my first response was a silent, “No way!,” but without any other choices impressing me, I found myself looking into Hillsdale, filling out an application, and even connecting with an admissions counselor. Having taken an introductory philosophy course junior year, I was surprised that conversation with my admissions counselor referenced Aristotle and Plato. Her delight in speaking about the “higher things” even as we casually conversed baffled me. I began to realize that there might be something about the quality of individual Hillsdale produces, something I would want to be a part of.
Visiting Hillsdale College proved to be the antidote to my hesitations. I discovered a small campus of devoted students and teachers whose goals were quite lofty and whose demeanor was friendly. As I got lunch with my tour guide, a student wanted to talk with me and ask about my thoughts on voting within our republic, referencing political philosophers I had never heard of and demonstrating a dedication to finding the truth of things—a pursuit that seemed to be at the heart of the student body. When I stayed in one of the residence halls that night, I learned to play the Midwest favorite Euchre with a lively crowd of young men at Simpson, a residence of students who call themselves “boy-men.” Even in the residence hall, students were acknowledging their status as maturing people, with their end in clear focus: manhood. It was here that I began to realize education begins not at the lofty—in neither mile-high bookcases nor the title Doctor of Philosophy earned after years of schooling; education begins with the marriage of joy and wonder.
My decision to become a Hillsdale student became clear after that visit. No other institution I had encountered both declared its vision for education boldly and manifested that mission in its students so evidently. It took prayer and counsel over several months to formally declare my intentions, and by then, God assured me I had made the right choice. Three months of summer blew by, and before I knew it, I beheld again the bronze eagle statue standing at the edge of Hillsdale’s campus, this time as a Hillsdale student myself, and just as they did during my visit as a prospective student, it was the people of Hillsdale who amazed me. In the first month of school, my head was sent spinning with all of the names and faces I encountered. Within the walls of Simpson residence, my new home, I began to appreciate the education I sought at this school. The “boy-men” around me spoke of virtue, tradition, love, football, pranks, and great Simpsonites of the past. Staying up past midnight became a habit, as my eagerness to partake in the sophomoric wisdom of my elders overcame my desire for sleep. These men showed me the limits of study as a part of the good life, learning as much about beauty in my shared experiences as I had in my books. Most importantly, the quotidian, the everyday activities like making my bed and walking to class became rituals in the art of forming myself into the educated man.
My first year of education engrossed me in a conversation with minds of the past, informing me of the truths which the students around me act upon. Grappling with timeless ideas and the sharp minds around me has drawn me closer to God. Through my experiences here, I find my greatest joy in learning and friendship—endeavors which declare God’s provision.
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Michael Hoggatt comes to Hillsdale from Brookfield, WI, with academic interests in history, philosophy, and English. He is a member of rugby club and choir, and enjoys spending time among friends anywhere on campus, especially in Simpson residence. Hayden Park has become a favorite place to train for rugby and bike on the trails. After the sunsets on Baw Beese Lake, Dr. Jackson’s beard is his favorite Hillsdale sight.