Learning to Love the Liberal Arts

Written by Quinn Delamater

If you attended a public high school, chances are your first semester (or maybe even your freshman year) at Hillsdale College was similar to mine: a big academic adjustment. 

When I arrived at Hillsdale as a freshman almost four years ago, I barely knew what a classical education was. I frequently found myself hearing the question, “What kind of school did you go to?” among the freshman class, meant as a friendly icebreaker inquiry. “Private high school” or “classical high school” were the most common answers. On average, each year, over half of the incoming freshman class hails from private high schools, while 31% come from public high schools, according to the Admissions Office. 

I attended a private, Christian elementary school, but not a classical one. For middle and high school, I attended my local public schools. I had never been classically trained in any subject; I didn’t learn Latin in the third grade, and I didn’t take a logic course at age 15. The closest I ever got to the Nicomachean Ethics was during my senior year social studies class, when I spent a few weeks studying philosophy.  

Even so, public school taught me to work hard. To be a leader, excellence was required. There were endless clubs, sports, and activities to participate in. I encountered people who were different from me politically, religiously, and ideologically. I learned the lost art of peacefully and happily coexisting with people. If I could go back and do it all over again, I would choose the same high school experience every time. 

But, there I was, my freshman year, anxiety-ridden that I wasn’t adapting fast enough to earn the grades I wanted. I was not ashamed that I went to a public high school, but I was certainly insecure about it. 

Everything made more sense in my sophomore year. With one year of classical education under my belt, I began to see and understand the beauty of the liberal arts. Concepts came more easily to me. I often experienced “lightbulb” moments in the classroom. So, what changed?

Time changed, and with it, so did I. Over the course of my freshman year, through relentless encouragement from my parents, professors, and peers, I learned to be confident in myself as a student. I realized that it was normal to struggle, and I gave myself the freedom to do so. If I didn’t understand a concept the first time I heard it, I relished the experience of stretching my brain to fully comprehend it. This transformed the way I viewed learning. I learned not to let the fear of a bad grade cripple me from achieving a good grade. 

I am here to say that no one has it all together their freshman year. Every single Hillsdale newbie is facing a strenuous adjustment in their life as they embark on their college career, whether coming from a private or public school. In fact, during the first few weeks of my freshman year, I found myself stunned on a daily basis at how kind and genuine people were. Not only genuine in their kindness, but also in their convictions. I recall crying tears of joy at random moments during that first semester, as I was overwhelmed with gratitude. If I could go back in time and tell my freshman self one thing, it would be that it really does get better, and that you will adjust.

As my time at Hillsdale comes to a close, I can honestly say that the education I’ve experienced here is one of God’s greatest blessings to me. And I have my public school experience for helping me realize this. 

Looking back, I do not regret having gone to a public school, and no one at Hillsdale has ever made me feel that way. Hillsdale’s student body hails from a variety of lifestyles and educational backgrounds. It’s this uniqueness that is part of what makes Hillsdale College so wonderful.

After I graduate, I am planning to work as a journalist in Washington, D.C. Ever since I was an editor for my high school’s newspaper, I have hoped for a career in journalism. I arrived at Hillsdale with this dream, which was readily nourished by the incredible Journalism Department. Through participating in the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program, I fell in love with living in D.C. Through taking John Miller’s Political Journalism course, I fell in love with reporting and news stories. And through serving as program director for the campus radio station, I fell in love with using my voice to tell these stories. 

I would not be the student or person I am today without my education. Both my public school and Hillsdale education shaped me to love what I study and to study what I love. As I prepare to enter the workforce, I embrace the calling God has placed on my life that my education helped me realize.

Quinn Delamater, ’26, is a rhetoric and media major and a journalism minor. Additionally, Quinn is the program director of WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM, a contributor for The Collegian, and an active member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. In her free time, Quinn enjoys making matcha lattes, being an avid news reader, and skiing in Colorado when she has the chance.

Published in April 2026