Know. And be known.
January 01, 2020
There’s a paradox in choosing a university…
Many students have a strong desire to attend a university where they can meet and
get to know lots of people—and be known by lots of people. So they choose to attend
a large university, not understanding this paradox:
To know more people, and to be known by more people, choose a smaller university like
Ouachita.
At the end of four years of college, chances are strong that a Ouachita graduate will
know more people well—and be well-known by more people—than students who attend universities
with thousands or tens-of-thousands of students.
Why? Because when a student spends four years on a residential campus with about 1,500
other students—living and learning and sharing the challenges and joys of college
life together—he or she has opportunities to develop lifelong relationships at a deeper,
more meaningful level. A student who attends a university with many thousands will
likely live on campus only one year, often will recognize few if any of his or her
classmates and will rarely find himself or herself in a professor’s home for dinner—much
less in possession of that professor’s cell number when it’s time to ask for the all-important
grad school or employment recommendations.
There are many reasons to choose Ouachita. Add to the list the desire to Know. And Be Known.
Here’s how some of our newest Ouachitonians expressed it during their first semester
on campus:
"Ouachita provides the friends and professors who become our constant accountability partners, encouragers and teachers. Here, we are taught how to be a disciple in our world today, combining both our love for Christ and our love for academics. As I sit here, exactly one month into my life as a Ouachita student, I am overwhelmed with how much I learn every single day, how much I thought I knew but didn’t and how much Ouachita has done for me that exceeded all my needs and expectations." —Addy
"I really have enjoyed getting to get close with my professors and learning about their lives and their walk with Christ, so I am extremely thankful and blessed to be at this loving, tight-knit university. Ouachita is a completely different world than I expected. I knew that people would be more willing to reach out and befriend you here than your typical university, but I didn’t expect it to be in the genuine way that people connect here at Ouachita. Ouachita has been perfect for me—everything from the small community, the studies and the friends that I have made. Everything has been great, and I cannot imagine being at any other university." —Jackson
"After a month at Ouachita, I know that I am supposed to be here. The small but close-knit community fits my personality perfectly. The professors here at Ouachita have greatly exceeded my expectations. They care about their students on a personal level and genuinely want them to learn the information they teach." —Stone
"The first attribute of Ouachita that drew me to the school was its size. I wanted a school where I could feel connected to my classmates and would know most of the people I see around campus. I wanted a school where I could make relationships with my teachers that would last for a lifetime. I wanted a school where class would not just be a teacher lecturing for an hour but we could have meaningful classroom discussion that best fits my learning style. I wanted a school where I can have opportunities to practice my skills and build my resume starting in my freshman year. I wanted a school where I am not just a number, but I mean something to both the school and to the professors. Ouachita is a school which offers all those things." —Caleb
Dr. Keldon Henley, a 1986 Ouachita graduate, currently serves as vice president for institutional advancement and formerly served as vice president for student services and dean of students.
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