Lauren Smyth Archives

Prayer Lab

In a tiny chapel on Hillsdale’s campus, a few students meet weekly to pray through Scripture—and enjoy a rare moment of rest during busy seasons.

Economics on the Weekends

Class is out, but students still gather on campus for a Monopoly tournament—and a chance to practice their money-maximizing skills.

40 Degrees is Swimming Weather in Hillsdale

Adventure often comes when you least expect it. Just because you can do something—sometimes means you should.

A Love Letter to the Past Four Years

As a senior, I’m preparing to leave Hillsdale College. Here are some of the best memories, the biggest changes, and the greatest people I’ll never forget.

The Family Business: Teacher Gretchen Birzer Follows Parents’ Example

Taking classes from both her parents, discovering the classical education minor, and meeting the classical school where she’d one day teach were highlights of Birzer’s college experience.

How to Take Notes You’ll Actually Review

Legible, organized notes mean more information retained in class and less time spent studying. Plus, you may find yourself getting better grades. If you want to read a novel and get eight hours of sleep the night before midterms—and feel good about it, too—this is how it’s done.

Emily Holewczynski: Finding Resilience through Writing

Despite a damaging chronic illness, Holewczynski has pursued her dreams of raising a family and becoming a freelance writer.

What’s Inside a College Backpack

From headphones to snacks to a small pink elephant, here’s everything you’ll find in my backpack on a typical school day.

Math and History Lead Victor Joecks to Journalism Career

Joecks’s classes at Hillsdale College sparked an interest in writing that became his professional career—even though he’d long considered writing his weakest skill.

College Life Is Unpredictable–And That’s Okay

Here’s how to remain open to new adventures you could never have imagined and rise to a challenge you haven’t even discovered yet.

What to Do if You Don’t Know What to Do

If your list of career goals sounds like the resume of an Impossible Mission Force agent—including every job, skill, and certification known to man—here’s how to choose what to try first.

So You Want to Break Free from Your Phone

We’re all prisoners to the piece of glass in our back pockets. Here’s how to make your time your own again, plus tips for making your smartphone work for you—not the other way around.