Class of ’17 Looks Forward to Second Semester
Written by Graceanne Warburton
Two weeks ago, Hillsdale freshmen slipped on their winter boots and headed to class for the second semester of college. As a freshman, I was curious to see how my fellow classmates are handling their new class load and how their perspectives are changing.
Ramona Tauz is “incredibly excited to be back,” as she continues to write for The Hillsdale Collegian, the student newspaper. Now that she has completed the fall semester, she feels more prepared to tackle the work ahead. “I have more of a handle on my homework now,” she says. Derek Chisum cheerily puts it: “This semester is going to be tough, but I think it’s been going really well so far.” Andrea Sommer, a member of the Honors program, is particularly glad to be “getting back to work after so much time off.” While the break was much needed, Ramona adds: “I love to be challenged.” And indeed, she picked the right college.
As the motto states (Strength rejoices in the challenge), many freshmen find time management the biggest challenge. For Ramona, the second semester brings “more responsibilities and activities.” Amid new extracurricular activities and clubs, the freshmen must remember that their classes come first. Many freshmen find themselves in core classes with Hillsdale’s most challenging and thought-provoking professors. Andrea puts her biggest challenge into four words: “Dr. Jackson’s Great Books”. Never fear! Derek reminds us that the friendly atmosphere at Hillsdale supports the rigors of the academics: “Everyone is really helpful,” he says, “which makes things a lot less stressful.” Such challenges spark lively camaraderie to which many freshmen are very glad to return. “I missed my new friends here,” Elizabeth Brom confesses. “It is amazing to find so many awesome people in one place.”
The freshmen continue to acclimate to the academic rigors of classes and are now happily pursuing extra-curricular responsibilities and leadership roles. Elizabeth Brom smiles: “So, what am I not looking forward to?
Curious about what freshman year at Hillsdale is like? Comment below.
Graceanne Warburton is a freshman at Hillsdale College majoring in History, with plans to minor in either German or Journalism. She participated in forensics and theatre during her first semester, and is looking forward to picking up volunteer work at the Humane Society in the spring. She is a member of the Hillsdale College Honors Program..