Skills I learned from Hillsdale that I won't need after Graduation

As my graduation quickly approaches, I have been evaluating what I will need to take with me upon Graduation. Hillsdale has formed me into the person that I am and I know that many lessons that I have learned here will follow me throughout my life. Other skills, however, will become obsolete in May. Here is my list:

1. Finding a reliable source protein in Saga

My freshman year, I realized that because of Saga I had basically become a vegetarian. Now as a wise senior, I have learned the game. You have to hunt for protein. Finding some sort of meat, yogurt, or bean will fill you up and make sure that you aren't iron deficient. In the real world, I do not foresee this as an issue.

My hunt for protein.

2. Ice skating to my car

Hillsdale maintenance is understaffed. I get that. I don't blame them for the horrible weather we have had this semester. But I will not miss unshoveled sidewalks, parking lots, and walkways. I have fallen down at least 10 times this semester. Hopefully, D.C. takes better care of its streets.

3. Abiding by visiting hours

I liked visiting hours freshman year. I honestly did. It was nice just to have girl time and not worry about walking around in your short pjs. As a senior in the Suites, however, visiting hours are the pits. Once and a while, it would be nice if my boyfriend could stay in my suite after midnight to keep me awake while writing a paper. But no, at promptly 11:55 I kick the kid out.

4. Moving every 6 months

I've gotten really good at moving. I know how to use UPS home pick-up. I can easily throw away clothes. I don't get attached to places. I cannot wait to end my four years as a nomad and settle down somewhere. And get a cat. All I want is a cat. Literally, I can finally be happy if I have a cat.

5. Censoring myself

I can't write posts about people making out. I can't say bad words without offending half the population. I have to be super careful about what I admit to online. I am thankful that Hillsdale had made me more sensitive to my word choices, but I cannot wait to have a little more freedom.

6. Driving on one-lane highways back from the airport

I DESPISE THE 127. What idiot thought that making that a one-lane highway was a good idea? Nonetheless, I can now drive the route from the airport in an hour and a half flat. I can also pass like a boss.

7. Online shopping

With the lack of places to fill my shopping habit, I am forced to go online. I am the queen of online coupons, flash sales, and browsing. I am also the queen of blowing all my money on stupid stuff I don't need. I cannot wait to live near a mall.

8. Buying the perfect amount of alcohol to drink at a party because I can't take it home

All you off campus people don't have to deal with this. But living in the Suites, I cannot store alcohol in my room. So I either have to risk leaving it at one of my friend's houses and having it drank or finishing it while I am out.

9. Working on an assignment for a different class in my current class

There is only so much time in the day. Sometimes, multitasking is necessary. For instance, sometimes I look for jobs when I get bored in class. I hope that post-graduation life affords me time to both check the front page of Reddit and to get all my work done.

10. Enduring snow in March

Please, dearest heavenly father, don't let me EVER AGAIN live in a place with as bad of weather as Hillsdale. There is only so much Vitamin D supplements and a happy light can do for this California girl.

An endorsement from Hillsdale's greatest, most esteemed critic, Sally Nelson.

An Open Letter to Freshman

Dearest Freshman-

Don't worry. This isn't some sort of letter that admonishes you for wearing leggings as pants or making out in public places. No no. This is a letter that I wish someone had written for baby Emmaline after her freshman year.



Freshman Emmaline was very angsty.

Sophomore year is radically different from freshman year. It seems that the campus divides between freshman and everyone else. It's not that we don't like you. In fact, we love you. We see a lot of ourselves in you and you inspire us with your enthusiasm. The chasm exists because you learn A LOT between freshman and sophomore year. It's not just who Hammurabi was or what "Egyptian Gold" implies. It's really just about life and growing up.

So I have some advice as you move from the comfy life that is freshman year to the harsh reality of sophomore year.

First of all, don't lose that love you have for Hillsdale during freshman year. Weirdly, Hillsdale has a sort of summer campy feel at the beginning. Everything is new, interesting, and exciting. It seems that you have all the time in the world and that happiness is perpetual. If you lose this spirit, Hillsdale becomes a dark, nasty place. You will find a lot of jaded upperclassman at Hillsdale who have lost the love that you have right now. Do they seem like fun? No. Don't be like them.

Next, don't overcommit because you think that you "have this whole Hillsdale thing figured out." Guess what? You don't. The comforting truth is that no one does. You think that writing a paper for one of your core classes is hard? Wait until you get to upper levels. Besides, Hillsdale inspires students to be excellent. If you are involved in too many extracurricular activities, you can never give yourself completely to the ones that matter most to you. And you won't have a social life.

Which leads me to my next point. Have a social life. Don't spend so much time trying to maintain a perfect GPA that your only friend is the bust in the library. Go to Winterfest. Go to an off-campus party once in awhile. Eat in Saga with different people everyday. It makes life a hell of a lot more fun. The nasty reality is that most professions don't really care about your GPA. Thank God for this, because otherwise I might be "funemployed" next year.

Also, don't give up on the friends that lived in your dorm freshman year. Some of my closest friends are the ones that I met in my first few weeks at Hillsdale. Things are going to be hard. You will join different Greek houses, break up, have fights, become competitive, and get bored. Love them anyway. Anything good is pretty difficult to achieve. Take it from a senior. I still regret many of the friendships that I have lost along the way. I thank God everyday, however, for the ones that have lasted all four years.

Now on to relationships. I'm not going to say that I am the relationship queen at Hillsdale, but I sure as hell could have made a lot of better decisions in my interactions with the opposite sex. Hillsdale is a small place. What you do, even freshman year, will follow you until you get your diploma. People talk. My advice: don't do anything at a party that you wouldn't admit to your aunt. And not that cool aunt who tells you about all the bad things she did when she was your age. The aunt that scares you and probably should wax her upper lip more often.

Finally, don't grow up too fast. Relish every moment at Hillsdale. I know - I'm getting a bit weepy and annoying. Cut me some slack! I'm graduating in eight weeks. It's stupid to think that Hillsdale is the only place that you will be surrounded with excellent people. But it's the only place where you will be surrounded by great people, fascinating classes, great mentors, horrible food, overly preppy people, a weird town culture, AND a million eagles. So slow down and enjoy yourself. It's a fun ride.

All my love,

Emmaline

The Stages of Parents' Weekend

Stage 1:

Realization that THIS weekend is Parents' Weekend

Stage 2:

Frenzied Cleaning

It's time to wash my sheets and do my laundry for the second time this semester. Also I should probably figure out what that smell is in my Suite.

Stage 3:

Fear of Parent-Teacher Conferences

So it's winter. This whole go to class every day thing seems a bit demanding. I hope my professors don't tell my parents the number of classes I've skipped.

Stage 4: 

Inventory 

What exactly do I need my parents to buy me while they are here? New backpack, thirty thousand things of conditioner, beer, new mascara, contact lens solution, etc., etc., whatever my parents don't notice that I will throw in the cart.

Stage 5:

Arrival of Parents 

Time to take my weekly shower and attempt to make myself presentable. 

Stage 6:

Parent's Assessment of Student's Mental Stability

Have you been getting enough sleep? What exactly are you eating for meals? Nutrition Solutions doesn't count. When is the last time you left your room? How is the job search going? How is your thesis going? How is your boyfriend? Etc. 

Stage 7:

Questioning Why You Ever Left Home

What? I don't have to pay for things? I got Trader Joe's snacks? It's 80 degrees at home? You'll make sure I don't sleep through my alarm? Can life get much better than this? I submit that it cannot. 

Stage 8:

Remembering How Much You Love Your Parents

Wow. These people who raised me seriously rock.

Stage 9:

Departure of Parents

Please, please don't leave. I hate college. I love you. Take me home with you!

Stage 10:
Sunday Panic

Oh my goodness. I have so much homework. And a thesis. And 1000 meetings this week. Why did I snuggle and not study?