Coming to Hillsdale from her home in Minnesota, Alexandra Strauss is a junior majoring in American Studies and minoring in Classical Education. Ali is a delightful friend and a wonderful pianist and composer, and I was honored to perform one of her solo piano compositions in a recital at the end of the fall semester of my sophomore year.

Why I came to Hillsdale: I first heard about Hillsdale College from Mark Levin’s radio program on AM 1280 The Patriot and was intrigued to learn more. Upon further researching the school, I fell in love with the mission statement and knew that Hillsdale was the only school for my deeply patriotic soul. The fact that Hillsdale does not accept even one cent from the Federal Government and is completely privately funded enticed me to join in on their liberty-filled legacy and commitment to pursuing the truth and defending liberty.

Campus involvement: Bible Studies, Student Ambassador, Hillsdale College Operator Girl, Mentor, Running, College Baptist Church, Babysitter, Piano, Choir, Firearms, Dance, Music Composition, Volunteering, Teaching, etc.

Career aspirations: Politics, Public Speaking, and Teaching

Summer plans: Heritage Foundation Internship and/or Koch Institute Internships in Washington, D.C., Tutoring/Teaching Local Homeschoolers

Hobbies: Piano, performing arts, running, outdoor activities, teaching/tutoring/mentoring, choir, horseback riding, organizing/cleaning, reading, studying, learning, studying Holy Scripture, stimulating and engaging in intellectual conversation, cooking/baking, helping others, decorating, etc.

A favorite work of literature: Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote, Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice, and all of the classics

Fun fact: Visit online.hillsdale.edu/receptions and click on the stream cloud audio file to hear me speak on behalf of the college at the Hillsdale College Special Luncheon event on the 20th of May 2015.